In a recent interview. the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, told Punch that he met with Mua’zu in Mecca, and the PDP leader tried to prevail on him to join the party and convince Akinwunmi Ambode to do same.
But he has now come out to say that he was able to withstand the pressure from Mu’azu and give his full support to Ambode, who eventually defeated Jimi Agbaje of the PDP in the April 11 gubernatorial election in Lagos state.
Responding to a question on whether he would have supported Ambode were he a candidate of the PDP, the traditional ruler said:
“Well, I can tell you in all honesty, I went to Mecca as the head of Nigerian delegation and I met the present Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu. He is someone I have known for a long time. He is a very close friend. In Mecca, there was nothing he did not say to convince me to support his party.
“He told me support him but I told him what Almighty Allah had shown to me regarding Ambode. He said I should convince Ambode to defect to the PDP and they would adopt him as their candidate but I said I no. I told him that I did not hate the PDP“.
Commenting on his relationship with the opposition despite the fact that he claimed Agbaje- a supposed blood relation- would never become a governor in the state, the former assistant inspector general of police noted that: “some very good people there are my friends.
The late Funsho Williams was very close to me and I had a very high regard for him. He was a peace lover. When he was murdered, I was shaking. Some top PDP chieftains were arrested over his murder. By the grace of Almighty Allah, I, the Oba of Lagos, requested and demanded that they be released.
“I went to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti to shout at the police to release them because one officer said something which I would not want to disclose and I said that if anything happens to the former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, I would expose them and I was instrumental to his release.
He is still alive and is still my very good friend. I was in his house about two weeks ago and he comes here every time. So, it is not a question of hate.
“My concern is the growth, development and the best for Lagos and Nigeria
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