Sanwo-Olu Absent At Tinubu’s Lagos Event

By Gideon Njoku

Why was the Governor of Lagos  State absent at President Bola Tinubu’s public events in Lagos on Wednesday? That is the question many people are asking. But an ear to ground would reveal that no thanks to a brewing friction, the Governor kept off, allegedly, to avoid a public embarrassment.

The whispers behind closed doors have suddenly become loud publicly.

It began gradually. In whispers, that the once close relationship between President Bola Tinubu and his political son, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has gone sour. Nobody knew why except for the unconfirmed speculation that the President was upset over the aborted impeachment of the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

The President, the allegation goes, thinks Sanwo-Olu was behind it, and felt betrayed that the Governor could engineer such without referring to him.

Yet nobody could confirm the state of the relationship- warm, lukewarm or cold.

However, it became obvious, political observers  pointed out this other day when the President Commissioned 30 kilometers of the over 700- kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal road.

Even though as required by protocol, Sanwo-Olu was at the Airport to receive the President on his arrival, but President Tinubu, pointedly, in a rather awkward and embarrassing manner, shunned him publicly at the event.

As the President walked the line shaking the hands of Governors present and other dignitaries, he pointedly ignored Sanwo-Olu who had bent double, almost, in respect, to shake the President. But President Tinubu gave him the cold shoulder, skipped him, and shook the Governor of Kogi, Usman Ododo. Not a few people were shocked.

But that was not the only snub suffered by Governor Sanwo-Olu. The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Abiodun was chosen to speak at that occasion well above Sanwo-Olu, who rightly is the host Governor, and more important, Chairman of the South-west Governor’s Forum.

But even then, not a few people were taken aback by Sanwo-Olu’s conspicuous absence at President Tinubu’s flag-off of the reconstruction of the Deep Seaport access road, Epe. His seat, well labeled, was empty, but his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, was present.

He was the one President Tinubu specifically addressed whe he wanted to talk about Lagos; he was the one he kind off gave a message for Sanwo-Olu about the intention of the Federal Government to revoke any Island developed along maritime zones without authorization. Even though that message was ostensibly for all Governors, some people felt it was meant for  Sanwo-Olu. I’m glad tye Deputy Governor of Lagos State is here. Take it that we will revoke all.those approvals given on setbacks, and please note that we are serious about it. No more approvals for those unapproved islands being created illegally”, the President said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s absence was odd but many felt he wanted to avoid the public embarrassment he suffered on the day the refused to shake his hands. The Governor, however, kept himself busy with other State activities.