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If by now you do not know that the outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode already has a spot in President Muhammadu Buhari’s prospective cabinet, then, stop discussing politics, even at the rudimentary level. You are way behind events. Yes, he is a potential candidate in the yet-to-be constituted cabinet.
Some of those who know a lot more have further justified this position by comparing the president’s absence at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s recent birthday lecture, believed to have been moved to Abuja, because of the president, but whose invitation Buhari failed to honour and today’s commissioning of “uncompleted projects” in Lagos.
For me, however, I see beyond the glamour of today’s visit, which is by all standards a form of validation for Ambode as just another individual in whom the president is somewhat pleased. And guess what, the president is going to get a rousing applause for his action, having failed to convince the owners of Lagos on two different occasions to let Ambode be before the party primaries last October.
Therefore, this for me, is what I call “life after death” for Ambode. In rare instances, some people get to secure second chances. Some have been so lucky in their lives as products of many chances, because life didn’t give up on them.
Ambode falls in this category and a second chance awaits him, with every sense of authority, I can tell. How he deploys this impending second chance would finally speak of who he truly is.
In the lead up to being denied a second term ticket, the core of his sins was mainly human relations. How he allegedly killed people’s businesses. That he revoked the CofO of some former governors and their wives, ostensibly carrying out orders. Allegations of how he suspended certain projects belonging to certain individuals on acccount of their differing interests abound. But it was more because of their affiliation.
Truly, he mismanaged many things. He abused power and office and he trampled on relationships. But in the midst of all these disturbing tales, some people still insisted: “This is not the Akin we used to know”. That resonated in many quarters and I think his second chance is contingent on that.
Whether or not that was true, he was blown away by that ugly wind and as it appears, there might be light at the end or this short tunnel. But the question is, has he learnt anything yet? Time will tell.
Until then, the story remains that the president was in town today to honour and openly identify with Ambode before he leaves office on May 29, and certainly not because he wanted to commission some uncompleted projects.
As you ponder this, also know that this is part of the 2023 politics. It is evident that immediately the administration inaugurates in May, it would be politics for the whole four years.
Get ready, many already see it coming…Can’t wait either!
By the way, this changes nothing about Mr. Babatunde Fashola’s place in the administration.
