President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex decision making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has intervened in the differences between the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
The duo were summoned on Tuesday to the official residence of President in Ikoyi. In attendance were Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; state APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; some APC chieftains; and GAC members. They converged at the Lagos House, Marina, before departing to Ikoyi for the crucial meeting.
Obasa was spotted in his black sport utility vehicle, driving into the Lagos State House Marina by himself, accompanied by a chauffeur, apparently to join the convoy of the governor and GAC, who had left earlier.
Upon learning that the convoy had left, Obasa, immediately sped off in his vehicle to meet up with the other party at Ikoyi.
A source, who confirmed Obasa’s presence at the Ikoyi meeting, said it lasted for several hours.
According to the source, President Tinubu and the GAC were able to reach a truce between Sanwo-Olu and Obasa, in order to allow peace reign in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, Obasa and several members of the GAC were given the opportunity to speak on the issue before the President addressed the gathering expressing his displeasure with Obasa but called for a way forward.
They were said to have accused Obasa of making statements about his gubernatorial ambition in 2027, which are likely to disintegrate and put the party into disrepute.
Earlier, President Tinubu had reportedly issued a stern warning to the Speaker over his alleged disrespect towards Sanwo-Olu and the his office.
The warning was said to be a fallout of a meeting with the leadership of GAC over the weekend. Olusi visited the President shortly after his return to Lagos for the end-of-year break.
That meeting, meant to be a political gathering, turned into a platform for the GAC to address growing concerns about Obasa’s perceived disregard for the governor.
Olusi according to the report, opened the discussion, citing several instances where Obasa allegedly undermined the governor’s authority, a situation he described as unacceptable and detrimental to the state’s political stability.
Highlighting the importance of respecting the office of the governor, Olusi was said to have reminded the President of how the position was upheld during his own tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.
Visibly displeased with the allegations against the Speaker, President Tinubu was said to be visibly displeased with the allegations, and criticised him for what he described as poor political management and lack of respect for Sanwo-Olu.
President Tinubu particularly cited a recent move by the Assembly, under Obasa’s leadership, to push for a bill enabling them to sack the Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, labeling it as “a huge joke”.
President Tinubu reportedly expressed his disapproval of actions that could destabilise the harmonious working relationship within the state government and called for an immediate resolution to the issues raised.
