Name Calling, Aspersions On Origins Come To Fore As Battle Over Gov Akin Ambode’s Appointment Of Wole Soyinka Co Chairman Of Eko @ 5o Takes Alarming Twist

…inside the raging underground war

With the public declaration “How else can one describe the President of Eko Foundation, Professor Oluwole Smith, who failed to qualify on the short list for Lagos State University (LASU) Vice Chancellorship in the last selection process or is it Mrs. Teju Philips or Mr. Lawal Pedro who have non-indigene antecedents, and cannot therefore claim to be more saintly than the Pope.’’ By Ibile group, supporters of the choice of Professor Wole Soyinka as Co Chairman of the Eko @ 50 committee raging underground war over the appointment made by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode erupted to the fore with alarming dimension.

The Ibile Group which publicly backed
Governor Ambode’s choice of Professor Wole Soyinka was reacting to continuous campaign by Eko Foundation against the move.
The Foundation made up of people who labelled themselves true indigenes of Lagos oppose Soyinka’s appointment on the strength of the stance the Professor is a non indigene in Lagos.

And he just performed a similar task for his state of origin, Ogun when it clocked 40.

The much publicised event labelled Ogun @ 40 culminated in a two day visit by President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘’The opposition to Soyinka stem from his emergence to play the same role barely 2months he was focus point of world eye in Ogun state…the argument is, is there nobody worthy of the task from Lagos state” a source stated.

Information pieced together revealed that before Eko Foundation came to town with it’s opposition, angst against the development had raged underground.

Societynowng.com learnt a prominent Lagos Oba who is very close political decision maker, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the rallying point of those who want proffessor Soyinka out of the arrangement.

Known for his passionate preference for ”Lagos Indegenes first’, the traditional ruler is said to be lobbying hard with his disciples to achieve their aim.

Sources claim he opted to work underground to protect political interest of his main man, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The political leader instrumental to the emergence of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s ascension to office needs the state to be seen- and in- harmony to achieve his objectives in the larger picture of All Progressives Congress controlled state.

Lagos is his seat of power.

However societynowng.com learnt with Ibile groups added dimension of open name calling and resort to casting aspersions on origins of their opponents, things may turn out worse than expected.

”Ibile labelled the likes of Teju Phillips and Smith people with funny sounding foreign names!..what does the qualifier foreign names mean?..that they are foreigners in Lagos?” A source pointed out.

Societynowng.com learnt while the battle rage, Gov Ambode is seeking ways to find a solution that would pander to the whims of the ”Lagos Interest elements” as well as not portray is government as weak.

Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe