Tinubu Forgives Sanwo-Olu  As Lagos Governor Prostrates

By Adesina Soyooye

In a marked difference between two very important States in Nigeria – Lagos and Rivers States – the frosty relationship between President Bola Tinubu and his political godson, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is over.

All the strong rumours, speculations and prophesies to the effect that Governor Sanwo-Olu was on his way out of the number one seat in Lagos, are now history. They have been deposited in the dustbin. And Sanwo-Olu can now breath easy. His sins are, finally, forgiven by the President.

For months, the relationship between President Tinubu and  Governor Sanwo-Olu had been very untidy. It, allegedly, began with the failed impeachment of the most powerful House of Assembly Speaker in Nigeria, Mudashiru Obasa of Lagos. The move which shook Lagos and exposed it to ridicule, given that it is the President’s home State, angered Tinubu. It came to him by surprise as he was neither briefed nor carried along.

He felt betrayed that Sanwo-Olu did not give him an inkling. Finally he hit the roof when he was told that Sanwo-Olu was behind the coup to remove Obasa, an unabashed Tinubu foot soldier and loyalist.

Added to the Obasa issue, it is alleged, is the defeat in Lagos of then Presidential Candidate Tinubu by the Labour Party Candidate, Peter Obi, under the nose of Sanwo-Olu as Governor. It was unbelievable.

The move to impeach Obasa without referring to Tinubu was the final straw.

He decided to pay back the Governor in his own coin.

First he gave Sanwo-Olu space. According to reports, since the Obasa incident, Tinubu, consistently, refused to see Sanwo-Olu privately. All efforts were rebuffed.

However, the fractured relationship became very public during the President’s long visit to Lagos State to mark 50 years of the founding of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, along with other Regional Presidents, to commission and/or flag off Federal projects and to celebrate Sallah.

Reports, confirmed by videos showed that the President shunned and embarrassed Sanwo-Olu publicly.

As dictated by protocol, Sanwo-Olu received him on arrival at the Airport from Abuja. But that’s only as close as he could get to the President. He, allegedly, was not on the convoy that saw the President to his Ikoyi home from the airport. He played no role at the ECOWAS 50th anniversary. And at the commissioning of the completed 30km of the much-talked about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the President shunned him completely. He conspicuously skipped shaking Sanwo-Olu’s hands as he shook other dignitaries. Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, was chosen above him, the host Governor/Chairman South-west Governor’s Forum, to speak at the ceremony. In another ceremony two days later, Sanwo-Olu respected himself and kept off. He busied himself with other things. That was odd.

However, as they say, ”all’s well that ends well”.

On Sunday the “powerful and influential” Governor’s  Advisory Council, GAC, led Sanwo-Olu to meet the President at his Ikoyi private residence. They pleaded for forgiveness for Sanwo-Olu and others who they said had angered him.

All of them, including the Governor, then prostrated before the President who told Sanwo-Olu and all of them that all us forgiven; that all sins have been forgiven; that all is well.”

It was an excited and happy Sanwo-Olu who told the press, thereafter, that “they are one big family. That all is well. So Tinubu and his son are one again. The sea is calm. The storm is gone. Sanwo-Olu pledged his loyalty to the President and the APC. He said there was no problem; that people were being more Catholic than the Pope.

The Lagos story should teach Rivers State a lesson. This is the President who got hurt, felt betrayed, yet, he forgave. He does not want to stay in a calm Abuja  while his backyard is on fire.  Questions are: What is stopping Rivers people from doing same? Where are Rivers Elders and Traditional Rulers from both sides of the divide – FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara?