Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and his Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima, yesterday, in Ibadan, met with aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the south west over the outcome of the recent party primaries.
The two governors, who are members of the National Peace and Reconciliation Committee set up by the APC to pacify aggrieved members, met with former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Chief Adeniyi Akintola, among others.
Shettima, who chaired the meeting, held at the Government House in Ibadan, described Ambode as ‘politician of the year’, for displaying uncommon courage after the party’s primaries in Lagos, adding that his spirit of sportsmanship would forever remain a reference point.
Ambode, a first term governor, was not chosen by the party to re-contest, as Babajide Sanwo-Olu was preferred as its flagbearer in 2019.
He said: “Governor Ambode is my own politician of the year and the ultimate peacemaker. We are here essentially to build bridges of understanding, to reconcile with our aggrieved members and seek ways to make appropriate recommendation to the National Working Committee (NWC) for us to make progress as a family and to make amends where necessary.
“We have a lot to learn from Governor Ambode; he demonstrated courage and unparalleled spirit of generosity that have never been shown by any Nigerian politician. Many people were spoiling for a fight. I believe that power is from God and, believe me, the kind of respect Ambode’s actions generated for him across the nation is much more than spending 18 years in power.”
