GREEDY PARTY: PDP kicks as Ambode appoints Tinubu’s relatives, friends

The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State has berated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over the list of commissioners and advisers he sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly. The Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, told our correspondent during an interview on Monday that most of the nominees were not competent but were only named based on sentiment. He explained that two of the nominees, Lola Akande and Deji Tinubu, are relatives of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. While Akande is the sister of Tinubu’s wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, the other nominee, Deji, is the nephew of the APC leader. Another nominee, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, was Tinubu’s Chief Press Secretary from 2003 to 2007 while Gbolahan Lawal was Tinubu’s Aide-de-Camp when he was governor. He, therefore, stated that the change the APC was advocating in Lagos was not a positive one but one that would take the state backwards. In a separate statement, Gani urged the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly not to approve the nominees in the interest of the state. The PDP spokesman said it was unfortunate that out of the millions of competent people in Lagos, Ambode could only pick his godfather’s acolytes. The PDP added, “We also fault the nominations of Jide Idris, Akintola Benson, Anofi Elegushi, Ganiu Johnson and Folarin Coker because they had either been personal staff or relatives of a former governor of the state. Thus it will continue to be business as usual in the governance of the state as the state resources will continue to be superintendend by the former governor who is the incumbent governor’s godfather.” The statement read, “This list is so mediocre, self- serving, embarrassing that it cannot justify the delay and waste of days. Lagosians should not expect any change from Ambode. By this list, his hands are tied. He will only succeed to the extent that his godfather allows this list to serve Lagosians.” However, the APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said the PDP was only making needless noise because it did not understand the workings of the state. He, therefore, asked the PDP to shut up. The statement read, “For the avoidance of doubt, the nominated candidates are cerebral and very competent personalities who can hold their heads high anywhere in the world and answer their fathers’ names if the need arises. They have climbed through the ladder of leadership from various departments in Lagos State to get to where they are today. “They have been tested and therefore can be trusted to add values to Lagos State. These gentlemen and women are no pushovers in their chosen profession and they are capable of assisting Governor Ambode to take Lagos to the next level.” Meanwhile, the senator representing Lagos-West senatorial district, Solomon Adeola, has commended the choice of commissioner- nominees and advisers submitted to the House of Assembly by the governor. The senator made the remark at a festival in the Epe area of the state, according to a statement by his media adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, on Monday. He noted that among the nominees was a professor, six lawyers, three experienced medical doctors, two journalists, among others. The statement added, “I must say I am impressed with the painstaking efforts of the governor in choosing a team that comprises an admixture of technocrats, politicians and strategists as represented by such persons as Dr. Babatunde Adejare, a medical doctor and tested state and federal legislator; Steve Ayorinde, a tested newspaper editor; Kehinde Bamigbetan, a journalist cum politician, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, a financial expert, Professor Ademola Abass, a professor of law; and Kehinde Joseph, a grassroots politician of many years standing among others.”