Kazeem Ugbodaga

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu has endorsed former Lagos Accountant General, Akinwunmi Ambode as the next governor Of Lagos State in 2015.

Speaking at the public presentation of the biography of Mr Akin Ambode titled: The act of Selfless Service, written by Marina Osoba, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday, Akiolu endorsed Ambode with glowing words.

“You people know me well that I do not hide my feelings on where I stand on issues. We the royal fathers have consulted widely within the state with the sons and daughters of Lagos and have come to the conclusion that the best person to take over from Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola the iconic governor of Lagos State is Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.”

“We cannot have a man like this and allow somebody whose father is an Oba in Ewekoro,  Ogun State be the Governor of Lagos.

Although Lagos State belongs to all Nigerians and the state will continue to offer opportunities to every Nigerian to actualize the Nigerian dream, Ambode remains the best man with the required pedigree and character take Lagos to the next level,” he said.

He acknowledged that he is not against anybody contesting for the governorship of Lagos and that all political parties, including the All Progressive Congress (APC) have their own procedure for selecting their candidates for elections.

Akiolu stated that he had the constitutional right to endorse anybody he adjudged as the right candidate for the position as it was done in other climes, saying this was what he had done by endorsing Ambode, as a man who stood on a pedestal of integrity and selfless service above all others, to lead the Lagos of today to higher heights tomorrow.

The former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, represented by Mr Arthur Worrey, former Commissioner for Lands in Lagos, described Ambode as an industrious public servant who developed the template for the re-engineering of the financial sector of Lagos.

He recalled with nostalgia that Ambode did not only re-engineer the finances of Lagos but also developed the blueprint on how Lagos survived when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president unilaterally and unconstitutionally seized the local government funds from the federation account.

“This was as a result of the decision of the government of Lagos State to create more local governments to bring government closer to the people,” he said, while further describing Ambode as a financial surgeon who has contributed immensely to the development and evolution of Lagos for the past 27 years.

He described the book as inspirational and recommended it for all Nigerians, especially the youth and wished Ambode well in his future endeavours.
In his speech, the Governor of Lagos, Mr Babatude Raji Fashola, represented by Dr. Oluranti Adebule, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), commended Ambode for his selfless service to Lagos.
He noted his exemplary dedication to duty while he served under him as the Accountant General of the State, describing him as a diligent and hardworking administrator.

In his vote of thanks, Ambode appreciated the Oba of Lagos and other royal fathers; the retinue of guests and important dignitaries for not only gracing the occasion and for their kind words for him.

He promised to continue to render selfless service to Lagos and indeed the whole of humanity with a high sense of dignity and commitment to the Almighty God to whom he attributed all the success he has attained so far.