Lagos state governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that allegations levied against him by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode are untrue.
This is coming few hours after Governor Ambode, while addressing the press at the government house in Alausa on Sunday, made defamatory allegations against the governorship aspirant.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement, stated that one of Ambode’s allegations that he was arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in the United States is untrue.
“The governor knows I travelled to the United States just last month. I would not have been allowed to travel or even get a visa if I had been involved in what the Governor falsely alleged”, he said.
He added that another allegation made by Ambode about his medical history is also false. According to him, promulgation of salacious rumor should not be part of the job description of a governor.
His words: “That the Governor claimed that I underwent some unidentified type of “rehabilitation” at the Gbagada General Hospital was also shameless and untrue. Promulgation of salacious rumor should not be part of the job description of a governor. This is not the stuff of high office. People should question whether it is ethically right for the Governor to turn what should be confidential medical information about a citizen into a weapon of political warfare? But for avoidance of doubt, let it be stated that I never received any treatment whatsoever at the Gbagada General Hospital.
“Today, instead of making a convincing defense of his performance, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sought to sow fear into the hearts of Lagosians. But Lagosians are intelligent and brave people. They can see through the smoke and the fog. I am here not to tear my opponent down but to help build Lagos up”.
The APC guber candidate also said he will not launch an attack on anybody even when he is attacked, adding that the welfare of Lagosians is his utmost concern.
“Let it be heard by all that I hold the people of Lagos state with great respect and affection. Their welfare is my utmost concern and it is what drives my pursuit for the governorship nomination of the APC. As such, I also hold the office of governor of our state in high esteem. I shall never consciously do anything that will undermine the dignity of the office nor will I engage in personal attacks against the holder of that officer.
“My pursuit of office will continue to be based upon issues that matter to Lagosians and not on attacks against someone’s character, even when he attack mine. For anyone to engage in unwarranted character attacks against me, reveals more about that person’s character than it says about mine”, he said.