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By Akintokun Peter Olalekan As things stand today, obvious reality has since dawned on Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the outgoing Governor of Lagos State that every dream he might have had of running Lagos beyond May 29 next year had gone with the air. Everyone has moved on with the reality (at least within the APC fold where he still belongs) and a supposed successor has been anointed in his stead. Till this moment, no one has told the real story of what transpired, not even Ambode himself, who is already saying "Lagosians should forget about the past and vote for (his announted successor), Babajide Sanwoolu and President Buhari" in the coming polls. He has moved on. It can be said that his enemies triumphed, at least in literary terms. |
So who were the real enemies that brought Ambode down? That is a big question that will probably get an answer after this election period.
CityScoop's inquest into the sudden change of fortune for Ambode revealed that he had made big enemies, even right from his early days. He moved against some key individuals and removed some of them from key offices. A very top member of APC in Lagos told CityScoop that those early moves by the governor against his perceived enemies marked the beginning of the crisis that got the supposed 'Poster Boy' of the APC schemed out of the system with a surprising ease. The list of these enemies who later ganged up against the governor by getting his backers when he won election in 2015 (prominently Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) to dump him at a very crucial moment shall be produced in subsequent reports.
This story however, is particularly about a well known Lagos woman who the governor parted ways with just immediately after he took over as Governor in 2015. According to trusted sources, she was the first major enemy Ambode made for himself. Although, this said woman could not be said to be directly involved in the plot tgat caused the Governor a second term, what transpired between them was a big issue that virtually all the who is who in Lagos politics were aware of.
When the Governor suddenly shut the lady in question out back then in 2015, it came as a rude shock to many, especially those who knew their story prior to that time. It was more so because of the extent to which she was involved in the campaign that brought Ambode into office in 2015. She was like an engine room to the campaign.
While things were rosy between the duo back then, everything was kept underground and those who were in the know knew how important minding their business was. Even at a point, when the gist of the woman having a rough battle with her husband (because of her relationship with Ambode) came up in the media, it never went viral.
Around the time Ambode clinched the APC ticket in late 2014, she resigned her plum job with one of the popular banks in Nigeria. She thereafter put all her stregnth into the campaign and her roles were very conspicuous. It was like everything was heading towards the Eldorado for her after the man he has put all her weight behind became Governor just like 6 months after she left her banking job. Some people were even looking forward to seeing her playing a major role in the Ambode administration.
Eldorado however, never came for her as the cookies crumbled between her and Ambode in the early days. CityScoop sources said the governor ended whatever relationship that existed between him and the woman in question even before he was sworn in.
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According to our sources, Governor Ambode's relationship with her was causing a serious crisis between him (Ambode) and his wife, Bolanle. Till now, no one could tell the exact issue that actually led to the Governor calling it quits with the woman, abruptly. But a source told CityScoop Ambode fired her after an incident that she was involved in with the First Lady. Every privilege she was enjoying was seized on the order of the Governor after they parted ways.
Meanwhile, we gathered that by the time Ambode shocked her, it was like the world was coming to an end for the woman. Our sources revealed that she had to relocate outside the country where she had to restrategize and get her life back. She started a new business, which is now doing well and has gone totally private.
Many of her friends, who felt bad with the treatment she got from Ambode are still angry with the Governor till today, and were happy when the Governor was seen to have been unfairly treated towards the end of his first term. We heard that none of them has had anything good to say about the Governor and even when his accusers (who later ended his 2nd term dream), came, they got some confirmed sympathizers in these people. To them, Ambode did a bigger injustice to their friend.