By Akinjide Aina, Abuja Bureau Chief

Babajide Sanwo-Olu is in his last days as the  governor of Lagos state. The only light at the end of the tunnel that could save him has now dimmed. That light are the Progressive Governors Forum and eminent Yoruba politicians, monarchs. This Magazine can authoritatively reveal that the embattled governor’s differences with President Bola Tinubu have degenerated beyond any amendment or settlement as the Nigerian leader is resolute in baying for his ( Sanwo-Olu) head and has spurned entreaties from the Progressives Governors Forum led by Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to forgive him( Sanwo-Olu).

The President, the Magazine was reliably informed, has equally rejected appeals from some respected Yoruba monarchs and politicians across parties to let Sanwo- Olu be.Instead, the President has reportedly given the governor two options: Resign or be ignominy kicked out. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s impeachment documents,  already prepared, stamped and sealed, are said to be, allegedly, in the kitty of the Speaker of Lagos state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and will be immediately served on the Governor as soon as as the Speaker receives the green light to do so. “And this will be sooner than the public expects”, a source familiar with the anti- Sanwo-Olu plots told The Source.

And what wrong did Sanwo- Olu do to Tinubu, his godfather who plugged him from obscurity and made him governor? Why does President Tinubu now wanta to see his godson’s back?

Obasa, the powerful and longest reigning House Speaker in Nigeria is President Tinubu’s longtime political ally and a trusted foot soldier. Multiple Aso Rock sources told the magazine that the President felt betrayed and let down when, under Sanwo-Olu’s nose, and without a recourse to him( Tinubu), members of Lagos state House of Assembly, early February effected Obasa’s impeachment. Though, he later got the House to reinstate the Speaker, the President was said to have squarely held Sanwo- Olu responsible for the initial impeachment, accusing him of engineering and bankrolling it with the view to undermining his influence and hold on Lagos politics. He equally accused the governor of trying to chart an independent political course for himself.

Apart from the Obasa impeachment saga, there is also the Peter Obi angle to the President’s anger against his godson. The magazine was informed that shortly after the 2023 Presidential election in which Obi trounced Tinubu in Lagos, Tinubu, then President-elect,  expressed a displeasure to the Lagos state governor to the effect that under his watch, he ( Tinubu) lost Lagos, a state he had ruled as governor and a state considered his stronghold, his fortress. He went on, it was learnt, to wonder if Sanwo -Olu was a mole and aided Obi’s triumph in Lagos by not deploying enough state machinery.

The president allegedly complained that the Labour Party Presidential candidate’s victory in Lagos was an embarrassment to him and an indelible slur on his political career even though he was eventually declared winner of the presidential election.

The President’s ill- feelings towards Governor Sanwo-Olu was initially muted and concerned political stakeholders were making frantic efforts to resolve it before the Nigerian leader blew it open by snubbing the governor at the commissioning of the 30km out of the 700km Lagos – Calabar Coastal road recently.

A source who witnessed Sanwo-Olu’s humiliation at the Murtala Muhammed Airport when Tinubu arrived Lagos for the commissioning ceremony informed the magazine that the President deliberately bypassed the governor, ignoring a customary handshake and instead greeted Deputy Governor, Hamzat.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, the magazine gathered, was initially refused appearance for the airport formalities, it took intense last-minute lobbying and persuasion to get included in the schedule, his Deputy had already been added to the protocols list as his replacement at the Airport, the source reveal”

And allegedly at the instance of the President, another source informed, Sanwo-Olu was asked to stay away from the commissioning of 37km Lekki Deep Sea Port Access road last week. His deputy, Hamzat, instead took his place.

Meanwhile, this magazine has learnt that interest groups and some Lagos political leaders pushing for the emergence of the President’s son, Seyi as the next Lagos state governor are mounting pressure on the President for Seyi to be named Deputy to  Hamzat ( when Sanwo-Olu resign or is impeached) preparatory to his (Seyi) contesting the Lagos governorship in 2027.

“This arrangement is seamless and less acrimonious and it will pan out this way: Hamzat becomes governor after Sanwo-Olu is gone, Seyi is named his Deputy. In 2027, Seyi, the sitting Deputy Governor is nominated as the APC governorship candidate and Obasa his Deputy; and Hamzat proceeds to the Senate or is compensated with a ministerial appointment”

By Adesina Soyooye

Hours after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Party under which umbrella he was elected Governor, for the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has visited Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Eno paid the visit to Akpabio at the Senate President’s private residence, Uyo, capital of the State, accompanied by eight APC Governors, led by their Chairman, Imo State  Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

An excited Akpabio who received his, also, excited guests in company of his wife, Uloma, took to his Facebook page to celebrate Governor Eno’s defection to the APC.

He wrote: “It is with utmost joy that I received our Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, his Deputy, Akon Eyekenyi, All Progressives Congress Governors led by the Chairman of the Forum, Hope Uzodinma and other stakeholders of our party to my residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after the historic defection of my brother, Governor Eno, members of the State Executive Council,  Federal and State Lawmakers, as well as Council Chairmen into the Progressives’ Family.

“Thank you Mr Governor for having the interest of our people at heart.

“Congratulations and welcome to the fold.”

However, hours after Eno’s defection, and given his earlier ultimatum to his Cabinet members who wouldn’t follow him to APC to quit, three of them, including his  Commissioners for Finance and that of Information, Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, resigned indicating there was no unanimous agreement to move into the APC. There are also strong speculations that quite a number of House of Assembly Members are not singing same song as Eno. They are said to be loyal to the immediate past Governor of the State, Udom Emmanuel who was instrumental to Eno’s emergence as Governor and who now feels betrayed by him.

In his letter of resignation, one of the  Commissioners, Ini Ememobong wrote:

“Today, I have tendered my resignation to the Governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign.

“While I cannot question or fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in  politics with principles and my long standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors. This decision does not affect my personal relationship with the Governor, who calls me his brother and reposed great confidence in me by saddling me with two very important ministries(Information and Special Duties & Ibom Deep Sea Port).

“I have and will continue to have tremendous respect for HE Governor Umo Eno, even out of EXCO.

“About my history in political and public service, I look back with great satisfaction at the work I have done and leave the ultimate judgement to history and posterity. Given another opportunity, I will do more.

“Let me convey the very sincere appreciation of my family to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for appointing me into his cabinet. Our very special appreciation goes to Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State for his enduring love and belief in me, especially for appointing me into the Executive Council during his administration.

“I understand this decision may not please everyone, and to those who are disappointed, I humbly seek your understanding.

As usual, I do not know the future, but I know HE who holds the future and I trust that at the end, all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord and are the called unto HIS purpose.”

Not a few people have hailed him, since this letter, as a true honourable man.

Eno is the second PDP Governor who has decamped to the APC in less than two months. The first was Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.

Akpabio, himself, was a two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom under the PDP. He became a Senator later, and was the Senate Minority Leader when he suddenly dumped the Party for the APC. He had a very sour relationship with Emmanuel who he installed as Governor. He must, now, be having a good laugh at Emmanuel for out-witting him with Eno’s defection to the APC, midway into the Governor’s first term in office.