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Billionaire Oil Mogul and chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, has denied
claims that he is seeking to contest for Lagos State governorship seat in
2019.
Reports started making the rounds that the oil mogul will join politics
after posting a video of himself on a popular Molue bus in Lagos.
The rumours grew following a tweet from a parody account on Twitter
stating the Forte Oil boss will seek to dislodge Akinwunmi Ambode from the
Lagos House next year.
“My attention has been drawn to a news piece where false information from
a parody account was posted,” Otedola tweeted in the early hours of
Friday.
“I am a man of the people and I will always be on the side of the masses
but I am stating clearly via this medium that I am not running for
office.”
Otedola, whose father was once a governor of the state and also hails from
Epe Local Government like Ambode, insisted that the current governor is
doing a good job and deserve his backing for a second term.
“The Governor of Lagos State is doing a commendable job and Lagosians
should be proud of him,” he said.
In a statement, he said: “I have watched and followed keenly, in the
almost last three years of the brilliant transformation projects across
the state. No doubt, Ambode is building on the foundations laid by his
good predecessors. He is building roads and bridges, schools and
hospitals, water treatment plants, sewage and storm water drainage, solid
wastes management plants and mass transportation infrastructures.
“He recently approved the electricity power infrastructure for Lagos,
which when fully executed, will make Lagos State almost energy independent
in Nigeria. You are all aware of the newly-acquired mass transit buses
that are going to be natural gas powered in order for us in Lagos to be
the first to comply with the global CLIMATE agenda of DE Carbonisations.
Clean and Smart Lagos will take us into the modern global village and make
us the No. 4 economy in Africa.
“Our visionary governor is also spearheading the modernisation of the
Lagos State bureaucracy in order to get all the processes re-engineered
for higher and best performances. A good government is a reflection of an
efficient and responsive bureaucracy. It is the catalytic driver for
private sector growth. A bad and weak bureaucracy will produce nothing for
the people. We are lucky to have an able Governor like Ambode at the helm
of our affairs. He is a knowledge-driven leader, hardworking with passion
for our Great State.
“My endorsement and recommendations for him to have a second term is
performance-based and not just the usual conventional charade of second
term endorsement in Nigeria. I am sure that all my respected compatriots,
friends and followers will agree with me that Governor Ambode should
please continue with his good job till 2023.
“Ambode, please CARRY GO and continue with your passionate work for Lagos
State transformation.“Thank you for being a true servant leader and with
your eyes on the ball, surely Lagos State will become number 3 economy in
Africa.”