Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos on Sunday said his rival for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu , was not fit to govern the state.
Ambode made the claim in Ikeja while addressing newsmen in his office.
The governor was responding to the endorsement of Sanwo-Olu by the party leadership on Saturday.
The direct primary to choose between the governor and Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Training and Establishment is scheduled for Monday.
Ambode said the party leadership was misled into endorsing Sanwo-Olu as he does not have the capacity to lead the state.
He claimed the former commissioner had past records of crime and he had at some time undergone rehabilitation at one of the state hospitals.
The governor urged the party to go for a better choice in him to ensure continuity which would and keep the state beyond the reach of opposition.
“Now, the truth is this, the aspirant being put up to compete against us is not fit and proper.
“This is the truth. Party leaders and party members have been misled to understand that he is a better candidate than me.
“I have done everything in the last three years and a half to serve the people selflessly.
“This particular aspirant has been arrested for spending fake American dollars in a night club and was detained for months.
“He also knows he does not have the competence for what he is being propelled to do. The records are there in Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.
“This is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before. We do not want to go so far.
“We want our leadership to have a rethink because the truth is before us.
“I will not stand here on this mandate and allow our great party to fritter away that opportunity and put somebody that opposition will easily kick out because of credibility question’’, Ambode said.
The governor also said he (Ambode) had endured campaigns of calumny from the opposing camp in the past few weeks.
Ambode further said that he was not deterred by the attacks, adding that he would pursue his ambition to a triumphant end.
The governor said he was optimistic of victory at the primary as he had tremendous support from party men and residents.
“What we want is to allow a very clean board to allow everyone to participate.
“We believe just as the leaders have decided that it is in the greater interest of our party to allow everyone to participate in the process to show their strength.
“I believe strongly that it is in the interest of the country that we must allow transparency for which APC is known for. And this is what I stand for”, he said.
He expressed the regret that he had not been issued the party membership card, saying he only had the temporary slip.
Ambode appealed to the party leadership to allow those temporary slips vote for transparency.
He said he had information that some political thugs were being recruited in the state to undermine the primary election.
Ambode urged security agencies to take proactive steps against any trouble, warning that anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law. (NAN)
