How Ayinde Retains Position As Sanwo Olu’s Chief Of Staff

By Akinwale Kasali

Many thought the handwriting was boldly written on the wall that he would be replaced as the Chief Of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab had been tipped to replace Ayinde in the influential position.

Wahab, a Socialite and friend of the Media had deployed the strategy of the the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, now Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, by bamboozling the Governor with a status conferral through the Media, who had been addressing him as the incoming CoS to the Governor.

Political analysts and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had concluded that Wahab will be the one.

But the intervention of President Tinubu, allegedly, changed the dynamics.

Insider sources at the Presidential Villa revealed that President Tinubu  put a call through to Governor Sanwo Olu and asked him to reappoint Ayinde who had played a pivotal role in the successful re-election of the Governor.

He was the Director General of the Governor Sanwo Olu Re-Election Campaign Organisation, and made sure that the defeat suffered by the APC at the February 25th Presidential Election didn’t reoccur in the Governorship Election. His Principal recorded a landslide victory over his top rival, Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

It was gathered that President Tinubu told Governor Sanwo Olu to rescind his decision of dropping Ayinde for Wahab, noting  that if he had been using people and dumping them, he wouldn’t  become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as his  political structure has, over the  years remained formidable.

Ayinde was said to have lost hope and had gone to Abuja to seek for an appointment at the Federal Level before President Tinubu ordered his reappointment.

Less than three hours after the order from the President, Governor Sanwo Olu announced Ayinde’s reappointment on  Thursday 8th, June 2023.

Following his reappointment,  Ayinde was officially sworn in on Friday, 16th June, 2023.

Ayinde’s re-appointment came following a four-year tenure which was characterised by impeccable administration and coordination of both the State government and party affairs which drew commendation from various stakeholders, party leaders and political analysts in the state.

He was also said to have displayed uncommon loyalty, diligence and dedication to the Governor and his THEMES Agenda.

In a reaction after the swearing in ceremony, an elated Ayinde said his second term in office means continued dedication, loyalty and diligence to his Principal and state duty.

“My unalloyed gratitude goes to Mr Governor, party faithfuls and Lagosians in general for believing in this administration. I am rededicating myself for more work to the upliftment of our dear state.

“For me, this second term offers a fresh opportunity for continued loyalty to Mr Governor; also for continued dedication and diligence in delivering my tasks as assigned by Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, our amiable Governor.”