Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress have arrived Lagos. They arrived Lagos on Monday, and met with Akinwunmi Ambode, who is seeking a second term on the party's platform. It is expected that the NWC addresses the ongoing issues relating to Ambode's candidature, especially as he has apparently fallen out of favour with national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu. Ambode had taken Babajide Sanwo-Olu, another Lagos governorship aspirant, to the cleaners on Sunday, when he addressed a world press conference. Referring to his opponent, which could have been no other but Sanwo-Olu, Ambode described him as “somebody that has been arrested for spending fake American dollars in a night club". Ambode also said Sanwo-Olu "also knows that he doesn’t have the competence to do what he is being propelled to do", insiting that "his records are there at Gbagada General Hospital; this is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before." See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Ambode Reveals Sanwo-Olu’s 'Records Of Rehabilitation' At Gbagada General Hospital However, Sanwo-Olu, in his response, said he forgave Ambode for the statement, while describing the comments as unbefitting of the office of the governor. See Also Elections Sanwo-Olu: I Forgive Ambode And I Hope He Regains His Balance After Tomorrow’s Contest Tinubu had also issued a statement on Sunday, alluding to Ambode's deviation from his "master plan" for Lagos. See Also Politics BREAKING: Tinubu Suggests Ambode Deviated From His 'Lagos Master Plan' Following the arrival of the NWC on Monday, Ambode expressed optimism that they would do everything to ensure that the governorship primary is "free, fair and transparent". News of their arrival in Lagos was announced via a tweet by the governor that read: "Members of APC National Working Committee Panel for the Lagos Primaries have arrived in Lagos. I am confident that they will do everything to ensure that the Primaries are free, fair and transparent."<doc-sep>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.” I forgive you 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 the 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.” I will not attack anybody 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. He said “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, sanitation crisis “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. ALSO READ:Osinbajo warns against denying Ambode a second term ticket “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.<doc-sep>Until recently, there were beliefs that the Governor, who seemed to have fallen out of favour with majority of the party members in the state, will secure a second term without much hassle. As the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshimohole announced the rescheduling of the primaries till Monday, October 1, 2018, the aspirants are beginning to tell members how competent they are. ALSO READ: Ambode says Sanwo-Olu was arrested for spending fake Dollars Ambode had refused to back down or support the candidacy of Jide Sanwo-Olu claiming he will test his popularity at the primaries. monitored the World Press Conference which held at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja on Sunday, September 30, 2018. Here are five important things you should know about Governor Ambode's speech. 1. I have served the poor and masses I have done everything in the last three and half years to serve people selflessly and to serve the poor. And that is why you see that most of the projects we are doing is about alleviating the sufferings of the poor and the only thing is for us to continue to do that in next four years. 2. Appeal to APC Leaders Do not let us go too far but we know and that is the truth, We don't want to talk about all the things that we know but we know that our leaders should have a rethink because the truth is this, I will not stand here on the mandate of Lagosians and allow our great party, APC to fritter away the opportunity by putting in somebody that the opposition will take out because of lack of credibility. So, I think our leaders should have a rethink, this is not about me but about the greater opportunity which APC stands for to change the progress of Nigeria together. 3. On Sanwo-Olu the main contender In the last two or three weeks, they have been putting a lot of campaign of calumny in the social media and also disparaging our personality and our character but when you see it, we have never responded and have never abused anybody because we believe that there is always a reason for us to come together as a family. We are a one happy family in APC. Now the truth is this, the candidate, the aspirant that they are putting up to compete against us is not a fit and proper person to take this position and that remains the fact, this is the truth. Party leaders and even party members have been misled to understand that this is a better candidacy than myself. ALSO READ: Osinbajo warns against denying Ambode a second term ticket This particular aspirant as you all know, you can go and check, the records are there. This is somebody that has been arrested for spending fake American Dollars in a night club in America and he's been detained for months with mugshots before all these campaign started. It's also known that he doesn't have the competence to do what he's been promoted for saying he is going to do, he doesn't have the competence to do what he is saying he can do. The records are there in Gbagada General hospital, this is somebody that has been rehabilitated before. 4. On the Lagos APC governorship primaries The primaries is taking place tomorrow, we believe strongly, even though tomorrow is our Independence Day, it is important that everybody is prepared for the primaries. As we speak, the national headquarters of our party has sent the election committee to Lagos but I am yet to receive the guidelines. I am an aspirant in tomorrow's competition. I believe strongly that the preparations are still ongoing but there are some things that we really need to iron out and I believe strongly that the chairman of our great party, Comrade Oshiomhole will be able to correct some of the things that we have noticed. We are committed to the outcome of the primaries, we are committed to the tenets and principles of our great party but what we will not want to accept is to disenfranchise all the millions of people that we have been able to bring into the APC fold just by our mere performances. So, what we heard or what we have is that there is a register that is being brought to the state of which only include those that are registered with APC since 2014. What about all the millions of other supporters of APC that we have brought into the fold till date? Now they say, this is the membership slip that I have, I don't have a membership card, so are you saying that me as a governor will not be entitled to vote tomorrow? The national headquarters and electoral committee need to make adjustments and amendment to this. All the people that have registered as members of APC should be entitled to vote in the direct primaries, that is how we entrench the democratic values that we are all preaching. So, if someone like me can be disenfranchised because I don't have a card, what happens to other members of APC? We believe that these things can be corrected and we should allow everybody to come out and exercise their civic duties and right and choose whoever they want as their gubernatorial candidate for APC. So I plead with the NWC, with our party chairman and all those interested in this whole process to ensure we do the right thing. And I believe we will come out triumphant. 5. On alleged rift with Tinubu and impeachment rumour<doc-sep>
So, for Ambode, the next best way to hand himself a fighting chance was to hurriedly arrange a world press conference to, among other things, hurl unfounded allegations at his opponent for the Lagos APC ticket. “Party leaders and even party members have been misled to understand that this is a better candidacy than myself”, Ambode said of Babajide Olushola Sanwoolu, who is now favorite to clinch the Lagos APC governorship ticket and who enjoys the blessings of godfatherBola Tinubu and other APC bigwigs in Lagos. “This particular aspirant as you all know, you can go and check, the records are there. This is somebody that has been arrested for spending fake American Dollars in a night club in America and he's been detained for months with mugshots before all these campaign started. “It's also known that he doesn't have the competence to do what he's been promoted for saying he is going to do, he doesn't have the competence to do what he is saying he can do. The records are there in this is somebody that has been rehabilitated before….”, Ambode snarled, palpable anger outlining his chubby face. I was a guest on a ChannelsTV program as Ambode’s meltdown went from zero to hundred in an instant. And for a moment, some of us in the studio couldn’t bear to watch. Here was Ambode pulling no punches, taking the gloves off and sounding really pedestrian and petty on international television. First, I have to say that the press conference was totally unnecessary and a waste of everybody’s time because it offered nothing new, save for the invectives hurled at Sanwoolu. Whatever Ambode said in the opening paragraphs of his presser could have been offered in a statement. In the end, rather than hand himself a fighting chance ahead of the primary election, Ambode continued to dig his own grave. Rather than use the presser to endear himself to party delegates, Ambode gave these delegates one more reason to deprive him of a second term ticket. It was a horrible and badly thought out press conference to convene from a political strategic point of view and it was a pathetic delivery to cap it all up. Ambode must now go ahead to fire the adviser who put him through Sunday’s embarrassing ordeal. The only winner on a wet Sunday in Lagos was ironically Sanwoolu, the anointed candidate, who took the jabs thrown at him with dignity, equanimity, calm and poise and who promised not to head to the gutter with the governor. “I felt sad for Lagos as I watched the 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”, Sanwoolu said, a smirk playing on the corners of his lips.