•Party members may storm street over two-man show
Composition
of the executive cabinet for the in-coming administration of
Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is creating sustained bubbles within
the rank and file of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos
State.The horse-trading and consultations expected to herald
such an exercise, have allegedly turned to what a top party source
described as a two-man show.Party leader, Bola Tinubu and his
closest ally and immediate past governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola,
are allegedly sitting in judgment on who gets what, without consulting
with other intermediate leaders of the party, who collaborated to carry
the APC ticket of Sanwo-Olu and Femi Hamzat, through the finishing line
ahead of others, Sunday Tribune learnt.The alleged development
is also said to be rankling senior party members, particularly those
sitting on the advisory body, known as GAC, Governor’s Advisory Council
(GAC).A GAC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
however, pooh-poohed the reported move by some of his colleagues to get
Chief Tajudeen Olusi to compile a counter to the list Aregbesola
allegedly prepared at Tinubu’s behest.Though completely averse
to the looming influence of the former Osun governor in Lagos politics,
the GAC member rhetorically asked the kind of weight his colleagues
could pull when they were all selected and nominated to the advisory
council, single handedly by Tinubu.“The one said to be compiling
list of commissioners, special advisers and special assistants for Jide
and Femi (Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat) has no shame. If he has any, he will
not come to Lagos to be pulling a weight he can’t pull in the state
where he was governor for eight years. Can he go to Osun and be
nominating commissioners for the governor, despite the Tribunal crisis
they are facing there?“Those kicking in GAC are not facing
reality. They should know that Aregbesola is Asiwaju and Asiwaju is
Aregbesola. They should know that whatever Aregbesola is doing is being
done by Asiwaju and the same Asiwaju is responsible for how all of them
got to GAC. Asiwaju is GAC, GAC is Asiwaju.“I knew from
beginning this is how it would turn out, the moment they decided to stop
him (Ambode) from seeking a second term. What saddens most about what
is playing out now, is that the number one and two (Sanwo-Olu and
Hamzat) who will be accountable to the people of the state, are also not
involved in picking those who will work on the mandate given them.“I’m
not expecting anything from anyone, if they think we deserve anything
fine, if they think we did nothing to deserve an inclusion, good luck to
them. We have done what is required of us by delivering the party’s
ticket.“For those fighting within GAC, their agitation is of no
moment and the moment they give a slot or two of special assistants or
advisers to them, you won’t hear their noise again. We wait to see how
it plays out”.Sunday Tribune, however, learnt that the battle
for influence this time may not be the usual, which is always among
party elite, as foot-soldiers are likely to be involved in protesting
against the alleged two-man show unfolding in the state.Tinubu
is nationally believed to be interested in running for president in 2023
when the unwritten rotational arrangement would drop the office down
south.Aregbesola, his former Commissioner of Works, is thought
to be his most trusted ally alongside the likes of Minister of
Information, Lai Mohammed.Mohammed, Tinubu’s former Chief of
Staff, however, has emerged a major force in his Kwara home-state,
following the dislodging of former Kwara strongman, Bukola Saraki and
his camp.Mohammed is expected to take charge of APC as the new
ruling party in Kwara, leaving Aregbesola, to run the show for their
boss in Lagos.
Source:- Tribuneonlineng
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