*I Do Not Intend To Support Any Aspirant – Tinubu *Lagos APC, Governorship Aspirants Settle for Primaries Governorship aspirants in Lagos State under the platform of the APC have agreed to open primaries to determine the best candidate to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming general elections. This was the fall-out of a meeting held at the Bourdillon, Ikoyi, home of its National Leader, Bola Tinubu on Sunday night to discuss ways out of the impasse rocking the party over the allegations of imposition by some leaders of the party. It was learnt that Tinubu, who was widely believed to be rooting for the emergence of a former Accountant- General of the State, Akinwunmi Ambode, to emerge as the governorship candidate of the party had summoned all the aspirants to his residence where he told them to unite for the sake of the party. Tinubu, responding to an allegation raised by Tunde Disu, one of the aspirants at the meeting, revealed that he has not endorsed any of the aspirants and that a level-playing field would be created for all the aspirants. 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 in the state. He noted that on account of the threat, aspirants should endeavour to work together for the advancement of the party. A source at the meeting said 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 said 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, saying, “ 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 Tinubu’s denial, some other aspirants took the floor and demanded that he should make a public statement to deny his anointing of any aspirants, but Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who had also declared an interest in the governorship ticket saved Tinubu the embarrassment of a public statement to deny his backing any of the aspirants. “Ikuforiji noted in his speech that the rumour about Tinubu supporting one of the aspirants actually emanated from one of the aspirants gathered at the meeting. He observed that the particular aspirant had been confusing party members with his campaign which hinged on the fact that he (the aspirant) is being supported by Tinubu. On that note, it was agreed that none of the aspirants should use the name of the former Lagos State Governor to campaign again, the source said.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:52:12 +0000
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