As 2023 draws closer, political permutations and calculations have begun; consultations are being made and groups are beginning to identify with their preferred aspirants for different offices. However, in Lagos, one man appears to have stood out and is marching again for another term in office. The man is no other than the incumbent governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Unlike his predecessor who did all in his power to book another term in office but ended in futility, Sanwo-Olu seems to have given the party leadership a different impression of the kind of politician he is.
It could be recalled that Ambode was also endorsed by the then Lagos APC State executives, lawmakers representing the state in the House of Representatives alongside the three Senators, State House of Assembly lawmakers, body of local council chairmen and several organisations within and outside the party. The only known voice of dissent then was Mr Fouad Oki, who warned Ambode and his fans early in 2018 that the former governor would not be returned for a second term in 2019. But the endorsements somehow blindfolded many from taking Oki seriously. And ever since it was insinuated that the party leadership had concluded plans that no governor in Lagos APC would serve for more than one term in office. Hence, the slogan ‘one man, one term’.
Meanwhile, a couple of months ago, a popular Lagos APC Chieftain, Cardinal James Odunmbaku during his 75th birthday speech revealed that Gov. Sanwo-Olu was going to retain his seat come 2023 but a lot of people at the event didn’t take him seriously.
Baba Eto as he is fondly called said “Gov. Sanwo-Olu has been a very good party member. In his first term as the governor of Lagos, he has given prominence to the party, party leadership and manifesto. He is not a man that is running his own agenda. Unlike somebody that I know but I won’t mention because you all know him, our governor has respect for the party elders and he treats us well. Take a look at all the projects you see in Lagos today and you will see that he is really working in the best interest of the state, the party and all concerned persons.
“I can go on and on to recount the good deeds of our dear governor. He is indeed a child of the elders. I remember when he personally came here to visit me and how he surprised me. You know that it is not easy for a sitting governor to personally come to your house on a visit. Even though we worked hard for him to get there, he is not ungrateful to forget our hard labour. Unlike our former friend who will keep you on the seat for several hours without attending to you, Gov. Sanwo-Olu is a completely different breed of a politician. He is a man who matches his words with actions and I can assure you that he will be the governor of Lagos for the next four years.”
Today, his statement looks to be true as a lot of top APC chieftains both at the national and state levels have come out publicly to endorse him again. Although it looked like that was how it played out for Ambode in 2019 but then, there were a couple of people who felt that he doesn’t deserve to come back because of his many ‘unforgiveable offences’ against the party leadership. Meanwhile, Gov Sanwo-Olu appears to be the “good boy” everyone is talking about.
THE ASIWAJU TINUBU FACTOR
One of the factors that are working for Gov Sanwo-Olu presently is the fact that he has the backing of his leader and political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Unlike Ambode who went head to head against the Jagaban Borgu, Sanwo-Olu has been everywhere representing the interest of his boss as well as allowing Tinubu’s structures to flourish well in Lagos. A prominent member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), who is also one of the apex leaders of APC in Lagos State, told City People that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has okayed Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid.
The source, who did not want his name mentioned, said Tinubu had instructed the party leaders to work for his re-election. “Sanwo-Olu is coming back. I can authoritatively confirm that to you. He is likely to declare and will kick off his re-election campaign last weekend at Eagles Square, the venue of the national convention of the APC on March 26 in Abuja.
“The governor has performed creditably well in all areas since coming to office in 2019. As a technocrat, he focused on his job as governor and allowed political leaders who ensured his emergence to run the political affairs of the state. This endeared him to many of us and we believe he should be allowed to continue the good works he started,” he said.
Already, Tinubu’s hands are full with the presidential contest and he will need a stable and loyal home governor in Lagos to manage his base come 2023. “It may not be easy for Tinubu to replace Sanwo-Olu with another person because the circumstances at play now are far different from what was at stake in 2019. Sanwo-Olu may not be easily changed like Ambode without a backlash,” another source opined.
OTHER TOP APC LEADERS SPOKE TOO
To say that governor Sanwo-Olu has won the hearts of many top APC leaders would be just stating the obvious. He already has the support of those at the federal and state levels and all the local government leaders are rooting for him. Just being a smart governor alone couldn’t have done this, he has been a party politician as well as a man of the people. Some other party leaders have endorsed him too.
Top on the list is the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan who said Gov. Sanwo-Olu deserves a second term ticket. Speaking at the 5th Town Hall Meeting and Empowerment Programme organised by Lagos West Senator, Solomon Adeola, a.k.a. Yayi, Lawan hailed Sanwo-Olu for delivering dividends of good governance to the people of Lagos. The Senator said the All Progressives Congress (APC) Leadership at the national level has been following his achievements and that the governor should be rewarded with another term in office.
“We have been watching you over the past two and half years. You have been very wonderful. You have been consistent in terms of service delivery to the people of Lagos and indeed this country. You were focused, the one good term you’re doing deserves another term”, the Yobe lawmaker stated.
Another chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, also tipped Sanwo-Olu for a second term, saying his return to the office is sacrosanct. According to him, the stability of Lagos State must be prioritized even as the debate over the second-term ambition of Governor Sanwo-Olu continued. Ogunlewe made this known during an interview on Arise TV. According to him, while everyone has the constitutional right to desire any political office, beating Sanwo-Olu will be a tall order. This, he said, is because the incumbent governor is doing things that please Lagosians. Ogunlewe stated that the issue was not about Sanwo-Olu per se, but the party policies being implemented and the services being rendered to Lagosians.
THE GAC
The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, in response to speculations that it was searching for Sanwo-Olu’s replacement, said it didn’t pick anyone for the 2023 governorship race. In a statement, Mutiu Are, the GAC Secretary, urged the public to disregard speculations that the party leaders and stakeholders have settled for a replacement for Sanwo-Olu. Also, the GAC urged the governor not to be distracted from delivering good governance to the people of Lagos, adding: “The GAC has not settled for any person to replace Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor. Therefore, it is absolutely false and preposterous for anyone to suggest so. “The process of picking a Governor is clearly stated in the constitution. And contrary to the false impression the merchants of hate, confusion, discord and disharmony wanted to create with the news, there is no discussion of second term ticket by the GAC.”
GBAJABIAMILA, MURI OKUNOLA NOT RUNNING
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and Lagos Head of Service, Hakeem Muri Okunola are two candidates who have been tipped to slug it out with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the seat of the governor of Lagos in 2023. However, both have denied such and have tipped Sanwo-Olu to return.
Refuting his rumoured ambition to contest for the governorship seat in 2023, Gbajabiamila remarked that there was “no immediate plan” to contest the seat, stressing that the task before him as number 4 citizen in the country was enormous and tough enough for him to be distracted by such rumours. Similarly, Muri-Okunola debunked any plan to replace Sanwo-Olu as governor of the state, noting that he supports Sanwo-Olu and his administration’s plan to develop good policies and infrastructure in Lagos. “Those behind the insinuation are working to “plant a seed of discord between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and me,” the Head of Service said.
–DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 with additional details sourced online.
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