by Kolapo Olapoju
From the writing on the wall, it is apparent that Saturday’s Lagos governorship election will be the closest ever contested in the history of the metropolitan state.
It is a fact that regardless of whomever wins, the margin will be slim, owing to the voting pattern of Lagosians in the Presidential and National Assembly elections of March 28.
The contenders, Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, are neck and neck in the race, and as such it is pretty difficult to predict a winner.
In view of this, APC chieftains and party leaders have been reprimanded for their laxity in the last polls and have now been given marching orders by national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, to make sure that after INEC announces the result, the party retains control of Lagos.
On Thursday, April 9, at an emergency stakeholders meeting at the APC Lagos Secretariat, to strategise for Saturday’s governorship and state house of assembly election, Tinubu was reportedly livid with party leaders
“You, the party leaders have disappointed us. For the first time, we lost five House of Representatives seats to the opposition party. This is unacceptable. It is a huge disappointment. Though in politics, you win some, you lose some, you have failed. So there is no excuse to fail this time.”
“Also, you did not come out in large numbers. Were you afraid? You have no cause to be afraid as there was adequate security to protect you and your property. So don’t be intimidated by the sporadic shootings, meant to scare you away from doing your civic rights. The Hausa communities had a very good and encouraging turn-out, we expect better performance this time.”
AAA PPP CCC. Change! Change!! Change!!! Federal, State, LG.