Lagos APC chieftain: We tried to defend Ambode — but he did not pick our calls

Anthony Adefuye, member, governor’s advisory council (GAC) of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), says party leaders fought to secure a second term ticket for Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state.

Adefuye spoke on Thursday at a reconciliation meeting which brought together many stalwarts of the party in Epe.

Ambode, who hails from Epe, lost the party’s primary to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the preferred candidate of Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party.

Adefuye explained that leaders of the party in the district made several efforts to secure Ambode’s re-election bid, contrary to accusations that they removed the governor.

He said they rose to fight for the governor but he was unreachable and inaccessible.

“People accused us of removing Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode,” Adefuye said.

“We saw this crack four months ago and we decided to meet with our Lagos Central Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and we went to see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“We asked Tinubu if there was any problem, and he said that there was a problem and he narrated it.

“We prostrated and asked him to call the Ambode and speak with him.

“We left the place and started calling the Ambode to give him a hint of the meeting, but he did not pick our calls.

“Asiwaju Tinubu said that he was not picking his calls too. I actually tried my best.”

Adefuye said he urged Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to speak with Tinubu.

“We rose up to defend Ambode. We didn’t just follow Asiwaju like sheep, we fought and we tried,” he said.

“I fought tooth and nail to make sure that the position was not taken away from us. It was a great opportunity that we lost.”