APC leaders absent at Fashola’s book launch

OKUNADE ADEKUNLE
The launch of three books written in honour of the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, yesterday, was a shadow of the expected large turnout of the who is who in his party, as leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stayed away from the launch of the books in Lagos.

Aside the absence of the APC leaders, most of the members of the former governor’s cabinet, including his two former deputy governors and members of the State Executive Committee of the APC were absent at the presentation the books titled, ‘In Bold Print’, ‘The Lagos Blowdown’ and ‘The Great Leap.

The presentation was to have taken place on May 15 when Fashola was still the governor but postponed due to logistics problems.

The books were authored by Fashola’s media aide, Mr. Hakeem Bello and a former Editor on the stables of The Daily Times, Mr. Dapo Adeniyi.

The National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, however sent Prof. Tunde Samuel to represent him.

The anxiety that preceded Tuesday’s book launch was aptly echoed by the chairman of the ceremony, former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Fola Adeola, who said that only very brave people were bold enough to come for the ceremony. He hailed the attendees for their bravery.

According to him, “I believe everybody that came here today considers Fashola as a friend, brother, cousin, so I greet everyone and welcome them here.

“I will also say some people are here just because they are brave and not afraid. I believe in fullness of time, everything evolves and dissolves, things come and go.

“Fashola, a SAN and a former governor is now the only thing that will remain constant and the people who are here today are simply telling him that no matter what, they still remain his friend”.

Notable political players present at the event were immediate political associates of the former governor including, former governorship aspirant Mr. Supo Sashore, former deputy Governor, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos state, Mr Wale Edun and former Senator Munirudeen Muse.

Others are Chief Judge of Lagos state, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Mr Gbenga Makanjuola, Professor Tunde Samuel who represented the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Lanre Babalola, Jide Sanwolu and Rotimi Oyeko.

The book presentation was in sharp contrast to that of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

At Amaechi’s book presentation, which held three months ago in Lagos, Tinubu, Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Governor Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Governor Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Governor Samuel Lalong (Plateau), Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos),  APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, and many others attended the ceremony.

The ceremony was thronged by dignitaries from the various professions outside the political realm.

According to polity watchers, the absence of former governors and leaders of the party at the event yesterday has renewed speculations that all was not well between Fashola and his former boss, Tinubu.