Polaris bank MD emerges APC consensus candidate, Ambode, others sidelined

By Ugochukwu Onyenomnachi

Now that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has made public, the election timetable for by-elections in the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos seems to have concluded arrangements to unveil Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, the current Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank as its consensus candidate.

The by- election is to fill the vacant position of the Lagos East senatorial district that became following the death of the former occupant, Bayo Osinowo, who died on June 15, 2020 after a brief illness said to be connected with COVID-19.

Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, an indigene of Lagos State was born on the 25th of March 1964,

A reliable source who was not authorised to speak privy to the latest political developments said the Polaris Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tokunbo choice is generally supported and endorsed by the majority of the APC leaders ahead of Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu final announcement.

The former Lagos Commissioner has an impressive profile according to nigerianbanker.com for political and economic development of the district.

APC Lagos East Vice Chairman, Chief Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, other contestants on the platform of the party have been advised by close aides and allies to withdraw from the senatorial race.

Tinubu

APC National Leader, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is currently outside the State, reportedly had instructed the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of the party on the said step.

He directed them to get the applications of aspirants interested in the vacant seat and prone it down to four names for him to unveil the best man for the job when he eventually returns to Lagos coming weeks to rectify the GAC and APC leaders choice for commencement of campaign..

This development has no doubt sidelined the touted ambition of the former governor of the state Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, as much is no longer being heard  of his ambition and others.

Other prominent persons in the zone mentioned in the APC block are, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, former occupant of the position; Dayo Alebiosu-Bush, a former House of Representatives member; Tola Kasali, a former Lagos commissioner, and the Director General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri.

It would be recalled that the spokesperson for the Lagos PDP, Taofik Ganiu, had said the party was determined to end godfatherism and was also aware of the plan by the APC to impose a candidate on the party in the name of consensus candidate.

He said, “We are aware that the APC national body is endorsing somebody and other aspirants are aggrieved. So, our doors are wide open for them to take advantage of it.”

Meanwhile, all the PDP aspirants for the bye election as monitored are not prepared to step down as they all called for free, fair and credible primary election. However, Babatunde Gbadamosi and Saidat Odofoin Fafowora are likely to get the party ticket.

Sources to nation update say the bank management is putting finishing touches towards informing the relevant agencies of his decision to resign from his position to save the bank from credibility issue and to also enable him face the electioneering headlong.

As soon as the coast is clear coming weeks; Abiru, is likely to tender his resignation letter on or before ending of August to bring some much-needed intellectual rigour to the Lagos East senatorial district campaign.

Abiru who was brought to the bank in July 2016 to salvage the bank has served out him two tenures.

He may have left the bank in July 2020 but for the outbreak of the novel coronavirus that may have caused his tenure to linger till now.

He started his bank career at the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), where he worked for about a decade before moving on to First Bank of Nigeria Limited. He then spent fourteen years at the bank, where he later rose to the position of an Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking. He resigned from First Bank Nigeria Limited in 2016.