TheCable

Lagos Renaissance Group, a socio-cultural-political organization, says calls for a probe of Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos state, is embarrassingly shameful.

Members of the Lagos Youth Vanguard (LYV) had demonstrated at the Lagos state house of assembly on Tuesday, demanding the probe of the former governor for alleged corrupt activities.

In a statement co-signed by Daniel Awesu, president of the group, and Abdul-Quadri Enikanolaiye, its secretary-general, on Friday, the group said the protest is a sponsored attack against the ex-governor.

“The sponsored protest orchestrated by some hired street urchins in Lagos State on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, calling for the probe of the former Governor of Lagos State; Mr Akinwunmi Ambode can only be regarded as highly despicable, unjustified, embarrassingly shameful and uncalled-for,” the statement read.

The group cited other attacks against Ambode to include the Lagos assembly investigation of 820 buses purchased while he was in office and the probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“No doubt, this is one of the series of intentionally planned persecution and political assaults on the former Governor Ambode in order to wickedly rubbish his rich and enviable credentials and pedigree,” it read.

“All the campaign of calumny against Governor Ambode will continue to fail in the face of logic as the man lives in the minds of the people.

“It will only be an act of feigning ignorance or mischief if anyone living in Lagos State is oblivion of the tremendous and daring but short-lived pro-people policies and program the former Governor Ambode designed and implemented during his 4year tenure: 2015-2019,” the statement read.

“The majority of youths and residents in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general, know better than to be involved or believe in concocted, unintelligently manufactured and cheap falsehood by the enemies within who feel perpetually threatened by either Ambode’s achievements while in government or his discreetness and calmness in the face of persecution and barrage of lies against him while out of office.

“The former governor’s focus was to bring about development and improved life to the people living and working in Lagos. The people of Lagos will not forget in a hurry the Governor who served them profoundly, diligently and with a soul.”

The group warned those involved in tarnishing the image of the ex-governor to desist from such acts.