Babajide Sanwo-Olu, an All
Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate has reacted, in a pres
conference, to comments made about him by the Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi
Ambode.
Ambode, at a press
conference which he held on Sunday, September 30, 2018, said that Sanwo-Olu was
arrested in US for spending fake dollars.
The Lagos state Governor
also said:
“This particular aspirant
is somebody that has been arrested for spend fake dollars in a nightclub in
America, and he has been detained for months.
“He doesn’t have the
competence to do what he is being propelled to do. This is somebody that has
gone for rehabilitation before. The records are there at the Gbagada General
Hospital. we don’t want to go too far. Our leadership should have a rethink.”
In his response, Sanwo-Olu
said he would not disrespect the office of the Governor, adding that he has
forgiven Ambode.
He said:
“I felt sad for Lagos as I
watched Press Conference by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Many things he said was
beneath the dignity of our people and the exalted office he now holds.
“Perhaps the tension and
anxiety of the moment got the better of him.
“If given a chance at
cooler reflection of what he said, I am sure he would regret his descent into
such low conduct.
“In this vein, I forgive
him and hope he regains his balance and proper comportment no matter the
outcome of tomorrow’s contest. After all, we are both here to improve Lagos not
to wrestle in its streets.”
The APC guber candidate
also said that he will not launch an attack on anybody even when he is
attacked.
“Let it be heard by all
that I hold the people of Lagos state with great respect and affection. Their
welfare is my utmost concern and it is what drives my pursuit for the
governorship nomination of the APC.
“As such, I also hold the office of governor
of our state in high esteem. I shall never consciously do anything that will
undermine the dignity of the office nor will I engage in personal attacks
against the holder of that officer.
“My pursuit of office will continue
to be based upon issues that matter to Lagosians and not on attacks against
someone’s character, even when he attack mine.
“For anyone to engage in unwarranted character
attacks against me, reveals more about that person’s character than it says
about mine,” he added.
Denies allegations
Sanwo-Olu also debunked
Ambode’s claim that he was arrested in the US for spending fake dollars.
“However, I must clear up
some inaccuracies in the Governor’s statement. His allegation of that I was
arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in the United States was
untrue.
“In fact, the governor
knows I travelled to the United States just last month. I would not have been
allowed to travel or even get a visa if I had been involved in what the
Governor falsely alleged.
“That the Governor claimed
I underwent some unidentified type of “rehabilitation” at the Gbagada General
Hospital was also shameless and untrue.
“Promulgation of salacious rumor should not be
part of the job description of a governor. This is not the stuff of high
office.
“People should question
whether it is ethically right for the Governor to turn what should be
confidential medical information about a citizen into a weapon of political
warfare?
“But for avoidance of
doubt, let it be stated that I never received any treatment whatsoever at the
Gbagada General Hospital.”
VisionScape
“Today, instead of making a convincing defense
of his performance, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sought to sow fear into the hearts of
Lagosians.
“But Lagosians are an
intelligent and brave people. They can see through the smoke and the fog.
“I am here not to tear my
opponent down but to help build Lagos up.
With me, you will hear about progress on education, health, sanitation,
proper tax levels, economic development, infrastructure, jobs, public services and
other things that enhance the lives of people.
“I am a serious person and
this primary is a serious matter. I have not the time or inclination to attack
character when there are so many real issues to address.
“We will continue to focus
on the issues that matter in the lives of the people of Lagos. Lagosians want
an answer to the sanitation crisis cast loss of jobs caused by Mr. Ambode’s
Visionscape misadventure.
“Our people will want to
know why Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has not been able to build a single General
Hospital in the State when his immediate predecessor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola
(SAN) built 11 General Hospitals.
“Lagosians are waiting to
hear what our solutions are. They want to know why hundreds of competent civil
servants got summarily dismissed and how this has undermined public services.
“As a candidate for the
party’s nomination and hopefully as your next governor, my approach will not be
to sling insults but to propose solutions to the problems of the day,”
Sanwo-Olu added.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu is said
to be APC national leader, Bola Tinubu’s preferred candidate.
Shortly after Ambode’s
press conference, Tinubu issued a statement on Twitter, saying that Sanwo-Olu
is a better candidate who is endowed with superlative vision and commitment and
who also possesses a wealth of experience and exposure.
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