Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
December 17, 2014 – There are indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has picked Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, as running mate to the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
A caucus source in APC told our correspondent that the Deputy Governor’s slot was ceded to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, whose main candidate, Olasupo Shashore was defeated at the APC primaries.
Fashola we gathered has finally picked his SSG, Adebule. We gathered that although, Fashola did not say anything when he was told at the Governing Council meeting at GRA Lagos to get a Deputy Governor for the party, he has finally settled down for Adebule especially now that his political career seems to be on the wane after turning down a senatorial slot.
We gathered Adebule has been unanimously endorsed by the party leadership. One other reason advanced for her candidature was her religious background.
She is a Muslim and her choice is seen as one way to balance the political equation since Ambode is a devoted Christian.
An APC House of Representatives member, who does not want to be named said her choice is based on religious sentiment.
“Everything in Nigeria’s politics now is based on religious sentiment. The country has been polarized along religious delineation. Ambode is a Christian so a female Muslim is needed to be his deputy.
“In Lagos we normally use female as deputy governors for gender equality and when you look at the current scenario Adebule with her high religious background and close affinity with the Muslim community in the state was unanimously endorsed.”
Adebule is a prominent member of the Muslim Students Society (MSS), holds a doctorate degree and has lectured at the Lagos State University (LASU) before her appointment as SSG .
