Tinubu denies endorsing any aspirant for Lagos guber race

Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu has said that he has not endorsed any
of the aspirants jostling to become the next
governor of Lagos State. There has been
speculations in the media that the former
governor of the state had endorsed the former
accountant general of the state, Mr Akinwunmi
Ambode.
But at a meeting with all the 14 governorship
aspirants in the party held on Sunday night,
Asiwaju Tinubu revealed that he has not
endorsed any of the aspirants and that a level-
playing field would be created for all the
aspirants.
Asiwaju reportedly alluded to this while
responding to an allegation raised by Mr Tunde
Disu, one of the aspirants at the meeting. Disu
had raised issues with Tinubu who, in his
opening remarks to the gathered aspirants, had
pleaded for unity among the aspirants,
explaining that the party is faced with the
growing threat of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in the state.
He noted that on account of this threat,
aspirants should endeavour to work together for
the advancement of the party. A source at the
meeting informed that as soon as Tinubu
concluded his opening remarks, Disu asked to be
recognised and pointedly told Tinubu that all
the aspirants made themselves available at the
meeting as a mark of respect for the national
leader.
Disu argued that but for the respect they have
for the National Leader they would all have
stayed away from the meeting in consideration
of the fact that the National Leader had
already anointed one of the aspirants as his
preferred choice for the governorship ticket,”
the source said. But Tinubu was quick to clear
himself of the allegation.
“Asiwaju declared that he has not anointed
anybody and that he considered all aspirants as
equal before him. He also assured the
aspirants of a level playing field at the
gubernatorial primary election of the Party,”
our source added.
In response to Asiwaju’s denial, some other
aspirants took the floor and demanded that
Asiwaju should make a public statement to deny
his anointing any aspirants but Mr Adeyemi
Ikuforiji, Speaker of the Lagos State House of
Assembly who had also declared an interest in
the governorship ticket saved Asiwaju the
embarrassment of a public statement to deny his
backing any of the aspirants.“
Ikuforiji noted in his speech that the rumour
about Asiwaju supporting one of the aspirants
actually emanated from one of the aspirants
gathered at the meeting. He observed that the
particular aspirants have been confusing Party
members with his campaign which hinged on the
fact that he (the aspirant)is being supported
by Asiwaju.
On that note, it was agreed that none of the
aspirant should use the name of the former
Lagos State Governor to campaign again,” the
source explained.