Tinubu Organises Kangaroo Elections–Senator GOS

The race to the Lagos seat of power in Alausa, Ikeja, is heating up and the prospective candidates to the ‘thrown’ have started crossing the ‘t’s and dotting the ‘i’s.

One of those believed to be wishing to rule Lagos after Governor Babatunde Fashola leaves office on May 29, 2015, is Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon, fondly called GOS.

But going by an alleged declaration by a former governor of the state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has zoned the next governor of Lagos State from the Lagos East Senatorial District, which automatically knocks out GOS from the race.

The Senator is presently at the upper chamber of the National Assembly representing Lagos West Senatorial District.

In a recent interview, the lawmaker lamented that he will not allow anyone tie down his life. He specifically noted that the party primary that produced the incumbent governor as candidate of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in 2007, was laughable. (The ACN later merged with other parties to form APC).

In his actual words, “my aspiration is to become the Governor. You have a passion, you have what you want to do. It is not about what someone wants you to do; don’t give me what I don’t want.”

When asked if he will step down if asked to do so by his party, GOS categorically said, “it is not possible because I know how we got to where we are. If in 2007, you said “you can’t go now; let’s allow this person – you will have the opportunity next time”. You want to call me now – so what are you going to tell me? That I have to wait again! You put my life on hold? You cannot.

“You need to tell me what is wrong with me that makes me unsuitable for that position for a second time. And what makes that person so suitable that I need to sacrifice myself again.

“No! We start from where we stopped. It looked like eight years was long, so now you need to call me and let me know or we go to the primaries. And in primaries, you are not under any obligation to start to placate anybody.

“You open your eyes, you collect your form. But the primary must be free and fair. You don’t conduct a kangaroo primary; just like what was done in 2007, allocating votes saying somebody scored this and that. I just laughed it off after I’d seen my name in the 4th position with others. So let it be free; fair and everybody knows their lot.”