By Adesina Soyooye
“If Lagos is truly playing with fire, it is because beneficiaries of the goodwill and sponsorship of Lagos like Sen. Ojudu did not think twice before stabbing the Leaders of Lagos at the back without any iota of shame or remorse.” – Lewis, PRO, Think Yoruba First Worldwide
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, former Political Adviser to late President Muhammadu Buhari (office of the former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo), has come under fire for an advice he offered.
Ojudu, in the heat of the ongoing outrage in some quarters, over the renaming of some streets in Lagos, especially those which bear Igbo names, had, in a statement on Thursday, told the Lagos State Government to halt the exercise as it amounted to playing with fire. “Don’t play with fire”, he advised. He, also, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop the exercise.
Ojudu firmly placed its root on the defeat in Lagos, in the 2023 Presidential Election of now President Tinubu by the then Labour Party Candidate, Peter Obi.
However, Ojudu’s statement has not gone down well in some quarters, including, from the Lagos State Chapter of his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The first shot at Ojudu was by Oluwole Lewis who identified himself as the PRO for Think Yoruba First Worldwide
In a strongly-worded statement signed on behalf of the body, he described Ojudu as a betrayer who stabbed his benefactor, President Tinubu at the back. He said Ojudu was still smarting from the defeat, at the APC Presidential Primaries, of his favorite aspirant, Professor Osinbajo by Tinubu.
His words: “We need not be reminded that Sen. Ojudu has not recovered from the humiliation of ‘pushing’ the former Vice President, Professor Osinbajo, to an historic disgrace at the Eagles Square in 2022. It is on record that he not only betrayed his benefactor – Asiwaju, but he also encouraged Prof Yemi (Osinbajo) to join him in his well-documented treachery. Is there a more intense and consuming fire than been (sic) stabbed at the back by the same hands that you fed?”
He, also, accused Ojudu of supporting Ohaneze Ndigbo which, he alleged, is desperate to establish settler-colonies in Yorubaland.
He said: “We would appreciate it if he engaged with TYF which is on ground than an Ohaneze Ndigbo desperate to establish settler colonies in Yorubaland. Where does Ojudu’s loyalty lie – Yorubas, his boss, or his Igbo sponsors?”
This first reaction was quickly followed by that of the APC, Lagos State Chapter.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the Party assured that instead of burning, as alleged by Ojudu, Lagos is building.
Titled, “RE: Lagos is Playing with Fire and Tinubu Must Put It Out “ the APC described Ojudu’s statement as misplaced and alarming. It called on Nigerians to see it for what it was meant to be: a distraction.
The statement, in part, reads:
“We read with disappointment the statement credited to Babafemi Ojudu, a former presidential adviser, titled “Lagos is playing with fire and Tinubu must put it out.
“While we respect his right to free expression, we find it unfortunate that someone of his political experience would resort to sensationalism, emotional manipulation, and half-truths to insert himself into a matter he neither fully understands nor constructively engages.
“Let it be made clear: Lagos is not playing with fire. What Lagos is doing — and has always done — is govern responsibly, maintain political stability, and ensure the peaceful coexistence of its diverse population.
“We reject the doomsday tone and divisive insinuations in Mr. Ojudu’s statement, which risk inflaming tensions rather than easing them.
“The APC in Lagos has never taken the trust and unity of the people for granted. Our leadership — from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu — has consistently prioritised inclusive governance, tolerance, and service delivery.
“Lagos remains a shining example of multi-ethnic cooperation, and those attempting to portray it as a simmering cauldron of ethnic tension are either being disingenuous or outright malicious.
“It is regrettable that Mr. Ojudu has chosen to stoke controversy rather than offer constructive advice.
“His thinly veiled attempt to paint Lagos APC as intolerant or politically vindictive falls flat in the face of facts.
“His alarmist tone serves only one purpose — to insert himself into the national conversation at the expense of Lagos’ hard-won peace and progress.
“One would expect a man of Mr. Ojudu’s stature to seek reconciliation, offer wisdom, and promote unity.
“Instead, he indulges in unfounded generalisations and plays to the gallery, conveniently forgetting that the same political structure he now questions helped shape his own political relevance.
“The Lagos APC does not suppress dissent. We welcome dialogue, but we will not accept careless talk that undermines our state’s stability or casts unjust aspersions on our leadership.
“Constructive criticism is a democratic necessity; political grandstanding disguised as concern is not.
“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to ignore distractions and support efforts to consolidate the peace, economic growth, and infrastructural development being championed in Lagos.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a symbol of national unity and not a fireman tasked with extinguishing imaginary infernos lit by political opportunists.
“Lagos is not burning. Lagos is building.”
