Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has been offered ‘a big federal job’ to abandon his second term ambition, according to sources close to Aso Presidential Villa.

The offer was reportedly made during negotiations, following the insistence of Ambode’s political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), not to back him for another four-year term.

Ambode is alleged to have angered Tinubu and several party elders in the state by his purported arrogance and actions considered inimical to the economic interests of Tinubu, a former Lagos Governor and chief kingmaker in the state.

“He (Ambode) may stay put in APC. The Federal job he was promised is a big one. Besides there are no guarantees that he will win if he joins another party,” one of the sources told News Express, while reacting to reports that the embattled governor may defect to another party to pursue his re-election bid. He did not, however, disclose the federal appointment said to have been offered Ambode.

There is no indication yet as to whether Ambode is considering the alleged offer.Sources close to the Governor, however indicated that he is determined to go for a second term and believes that he still stands a chance of getting the APC ticket.

Tinubu and party elders have endorsed one-time Lagos Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as Ambode’s successor. To further dim Ambode’s chances of picking the APC ticket, Lagos APC has adopted direct primaries in which party members, rather than delegates, would decide the party’s flagbearer.

Sanwo-Olu publicly declared his intention to contest the Lagos guber seat at a rally on Sunday, and has been talking tough, even as efforts by Ambode and his supporters to placate Tinubu have reportedly failed.

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