Benjamin Omoike l Friday, March 24, 2017
OJO, Lagos, Nigeria – The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Rilwan Akiolu, on Thursday gave a sound warning that no politician should think of contesting the governorship election in Lagos in 2019 against the incumbent governor, because there is no vacancy for the position.
He asked those nursing the ambition to contest the 2019 governorship election, with the aim to rule the State, to shelve the idea.
The monarch, who spoke at the 21st Convocation ceremony of LASU held at the university’s auditorium complex said the present governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was performing well and should be given a second term of four years in office.
“That was why about nine months to the 2015 governorship election, I told residents of Lagos that Ambode will be the next governor of the state either they vote or not but many doubted me.
“Few days ago, one of the aspirants greeted me and alleged that I halted his ambition. No one should come out in 2019 and declare his ambition. The only way to avoid not wasting their money is to support Ambode and his deputy to rule Lagos for the next six years,” he said.
The monarch added that any politician who refused to obey his directive would waste his or her money.
He said even though he believes that it is God who crowns a leader, Ambode would contest and win the 2019 governorship election.
He therefore enjoined all politicians to align with Ambode and his Deputy for the 2019 governorship election. According to him, with the good performance of Ambode, Lagosians can see reason why he maintained that Ambode is the best choice for the governor of Lagos in the last general election.
Oba Akiolu, who was commending one of the awardees, Professor Peter Okebukola for being a true heir of his late father in character, said that two things he learnt from the Senior Okebukola were being upright and prayerful.
“I often pray before and after leaving the bed daily principally from the advice of senior Okebukola, who served as my cadet officer then. The prayers have helped me a lot,” he said.
