Right of Reply: I Wasn’t Arrested In US, Treated for Illness, Sanwo-Olu Replies Ambode

Wale JAGUN

Ambode and Sanwo-Olu Photo Credit: Vanguard

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has denied the allegations by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode that he was arrested in the United States for spending fake American dollars at a night club and was rehabilitated for unknown illness at the Gbagada General Hospital.

Mr Ambode had at a world press conference held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja on Sunday described that Sanwo-Olu was unfit for the office governor having been arrested and detained in the United States for spending fake dollars.

He also accused the aspirant of being teated for an illness at the Gbagada General Hospital

The governorship aspirant reacting to Ambode in a statementbdecribed Ambode’s allegations as “shameless and untrue”

“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” Sanwo-olu stated

 

“That the Governor claimed that I underwent some unidentified type of “rehabilitation” at the Gbagada General Hospital was also shameless and untrue. Promulgation of salacious rumour 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,” he said.

 

Sanwo-Olu who stated that he has forgiven the governor added that he is in the contest to contribute to Lagos development:

“I felt sad for Lagos as I watched 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” he stated

 

“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.

Sanwo-Olu pledged to make the campaign issued-based:

“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. 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” he said

 

Related posts

Leave a Comment