TheCable

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has informed Rotimi Ameachi, a presidential hopeful, that the ambition of Bola Tinubu is the “rallying point” of the state.

The governor spoke on Thursday in Marina, Lagos, where he received the minister of transportation.

Amaechi and Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos, are presidential hopefuls on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sanwo-Olu, who wished the minister well in his presidential ambition, noted that he’s eminently qualified for the top job.

The Lagos governor, however, said he is a “direct beneficiary” of Tinubu’s leadership, and as such, the state will support him to become Nigeria’s next president.

“I have sheer regard and respect for our leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. I have been a direct beneficiary of his leadership. I have been part of his cabinet,” he said.

“Personally I continue to tow that line of leadership and what he stands for.

“I want to say to you that you’re eminently qualified and I want to wish you well in this journey. Clearly, for all of us in Lagos state, Asiwaju continues to be our rallying point, but the country is our country and we must continue to see it as the one that is indivisible and one that we all rally round.

“I certainly know too well what your pedigree is and what you have done.”

Responding, Ameachi said it took a lot of courage to visit Lagos because he recognises Tinubu’s influence in the state.

“It is a difficult thing to even come here because we already know that our leader comes from Lagos state. And you come from that family of our leader,” he said.

“We know that our leader is eminently qualified to rule this country. He has led Lagos state.”

On April 9, Amaechi declared his intention to run for the office of president, describing his decision as a “moral duty to give what I can in the service of my country”.

Months prior, Bola Tinubu, an APC chieftain, had announced his “lifelong” ambition to lead the country.