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A day to April 11, 2015, it would have been quite difficult for anyone to say confidently who would emerge the Governor-elect of Lagos State between the two major contestants, Akinwunmi Ambode of All Progressive Congress (APC) and Jimi Agbaje of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Though the supporters of both candidates would probably tell you that they were sure that their candidates would emerge the winner, the truth is that inside them, they were very doubtful of what the outcome of the results would be. However, now that Akinwunmi Ambode has been declared the winner of the 2015 Lagos State Gubernatorial election, it is pertinent to note those personalities whose traits, contributions and influences had helped swing the pendulum in favour of Ambode. There are many of them, but for the purpose of this piece, five key players would be considered.
The first of those personalities is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the immediate past governor of Lagos State. Beyond every reasonable doubt, the Jagaban, as he is fondly called, did play a very vital role in the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode as the next governor of Lagos State. Asiwaju Tinubu is such a controversial being in the sense that while some continuously allege that he indirectly controls the funds and properties of Lagos State, some strongly believe he is such a visionary leader who always wants the best for Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. So to the latter, they are always ready to give a nod to whatever Tinubu says.
It would be recalled that prior to the APC Lagos State Primary election that produced Ambode as the flag-bearer of the party, Ambode had always been Tinubu’s choice, even as there were other strong Lagos APC gladiators in the race. The noted of them was Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS). Looking at the political strength and acceptability of GOS in Lagos State, Ambode wouldn’t have defeated his like at the primary election, but for the influence of Asiwaju Tinubu. In other words, Ambode was only able to scale through the primary election of the party due to Tinubu’s influence on the delegates. Similarly, some of the Lagosians that casted their votes for Ambode on Saturday, April 11, 2105, did so purposely because of the love, respect and loyalty they have for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not necessarily because they see Akinwunmim Ambode as a better option to Jimi Agbaje.
Another important personality that has contributed largely to the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode at the last Lagos State Gubernatorial election was His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akinolu of Lagos. As a matter of fact, Oba Akinolu was the first person that publicly annointed Ambode as the next Lagos State Governor. And this was a long time ago, even before APC primary election took place. The Oba would not spare anything in ensuring that his candidate eventually becomes the next Lagos State Governor. The Oba’s love and desire for Ambode to be Lagos governor was not measurable and was beyond comprehension of many as he (Oba) decided to campaign openly for Ambode to the extent that he was alleged to have threatened that people who go against his wish would perish in Lagos Lagoon. However, the Oba has succeeded in influencing some people, especially Lagos indigenes, in casting their votes for Akinwunmi Ambode of All Progressive Congress.
In Yorubaland, it is believed that people don’t go against the wish and desire of their kings. It is believed that whatever the kings says should be the final. The Yoruba culture posits that you don’t disobey the king of the land, for whatsoever reason. One can, however, say that gone are those days in Yorubaland as these days we often witness events where Yoruba people disagree with their kings, especially on the issues that are political. Having noted this, it is also important to state that some people in Yorubaland still hold in high esteem such a belief. Those kinds of people were discovered in my observations at various newspaper stands in Lagos State before the governorship election took place. I had taken time to indirectly sample the opinions of the Yorubas residing in Lagos as regards the governorship election and the controversy surrounding the alleged threat of the Oba Akinolu to Igbos. Though most of them were not in support of Oba Akinolu’s utterances, they were fully ready to dance to the tune of the Oba by voting for Akinwunmi Ambode. Some of them concluded that they would be the last ones to go against the will of Oba Akinolu, instead of doing so, they would not vote. Some were afraid of the curse allegedly placed by Oba on anyone who antagonizes his will. In essence, though many of Lagosians might have considered the threat nothing (this was evident in the result of the polls as Ambode could only lead Agbaje with a slight margin), the truth remains that some would have voted for Ambode based on that or due to the respect they have for the Oba of Lagos. Therefore, Oba Akinolu has indirectly and even directly influenced the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode.
In the same vein, another prominent person that has contributed to the victory of Ambode is the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Many had adjudged Governor Fashola outstanding administrator of Lagos State. Though some of his policies were labeled ‘anti-masses’ by some people, so many people, including Jimi Agbaje, have acknowledged the fact that Gov. Fashola has performed wonderfully to some extent. As a result of that, many were determined to cast their votes for Ambode to ensure the continuity of the good things that Gov. Fashola has been doing. To them, casting their votes for Jimi Agbaje and making him the winner would indirectly suggest that Fashola has performed below average. It would be a slap on Fashola and that would not be fair enough.
Another person that has influenced the victory of Ambode is Prince Dipo Eludoyin. Though his name may not actually ring a bell to the public, Prince Dipo Eludoyin played the most important role in the actualization of Akinwunmi Ambode’s victory in the 2015 Lagos State Gubernatorial election. Yes you got me right; Prince Eludoyin played the most important role. He was the one that financed the campaign activities of Akinwunmi Ambode for the Lagos State Gubernatorial race. Without doubt, money plays a very vital role in politics. Without financial backing of this man, Ambode might not have emerged the Governor-elect of Lagos State, bearing in mind that the extension of the general elections by six weeks had somehow weakened the financial strength of the party, All Progressive Congress.
The last but not the least of those personalities that have contributed immensely to Ambode’s victory is Faud Oki. Faud Oki is the Director General for Ambode Campaign Organization. Faud Oki, a political tactician, was called upon to take over this vital position from Chief Folusho Ologunde when it was discovered that things were not really going well for the party and Ambode as far as the 2015 Lagos Governorship election was concerned. It was reliably gathered that it took the intervention of Governor Raji Fashola before Faud Oki could agree to take up the position. Immediately Faud took over, he strategized on various means of actualizing the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos Governorship polls. He would not relent in his efforts in doing so until this was eventually achieved. Indeed, Faud Oki was one the brain behind Ambode’s victory.
