Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has indicated his intention to contest governorship election in 2015.
Ikuforiji said: “I have called on God concerning my ambition and He has given me the approval to go ahead.
“I have not come here to formally declare my ambition to be governor of Lagos State, what I am doing is to inform you of my intention.
“When the time comes, I will do so and the whole of Lagos State will know.”
Ikuforiji spoke at an interactive session with staff of the House.
Ikuforiji, who is from Epe in Lagos East Senatorial District, emerged speaker for the second time in 2011 from the Ikeja State Constituency.
Akinwumi Ambode, a one-time Accountant-General of the state, also from Epe, has been “endorsed” by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, as the “anointed candidate” to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Akiolu spoke at the launch of Ambode’s biography in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The All Progressives Congress, to which both Ikuforiji and Ambode belong, has maintained that the governorship slot is still open to all aspirants.
Ikuforiji said he would actualise his ambition using the platform of the APC.
The speaker added that he had also “consulted widely” with stakeholders in the polity, including opinion leaders and his colleagues in the House of Assembly.
“I have consulted widely with the stakeholders, opinion leaders and my colleagues in the house,” Ikuforiji said.
On his scorecard as the speaker in the last eight years, Ikuforiji said he had succeeded in establishing a virile legislature and promised to build a state where people would be happy if elected.
He commended the management and staff of the House for what he called their professionalism and sense of duty.
Ikuforiji also acknowledged their support and for standing by him to develop the legislative arm of government.
He urged them to strive to raise the bar in a bid to make the state legislature an exemplary one.
– Abeke Olabode