Lagos State’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Nigerian leader’s Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area.
There had been speculations of silent ripples in the usual intimate relationship between Sanwo-Olu and his political godfather.
Sanwo-Olu was absent at a major road project inauguration for the deep seaport access road in Epe, Ijebu-Ode area of the state, after a previous engagement in Lagos where Tinubu appeared to sidestep him while shaking hands with other dignitaries.
However, on Sunday, accompanied by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu met with Tinubu.
Speculations of a perceived rift between the President and the Governor had taken over media space, especially after the controversial removal of the Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa as Lagos Speaker.
Obasa won his eventual reinstatement after the President insisted on his being returned.
Sanwo-Olu’s conspicuous absence from the flag-off of the reconstruction of the deep seaport access road in Epe, Ijebu-Ode area of the state, early June also sparked rumours of a crack in the relationship between Sanwo-Olu and the godfather of Lagos politics.
Earlier in June, social media went ablaze when Tinubu snubbed Sanwo-Olu during the inauguration of the completed phase 1, section 1 (30km by six lanes) of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
However, the Sunday meeting between Sanwo-Olu and the President appeared to have been arranged to dissipate the word on the street.
Also in attendance were Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Obasa and his deputy, Mojisola Meranda; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; among other power brokers in Lagos politics.
The Ikoyi residence of the President has become a Mecca of sorts since May 27 when Tinubu arrived in Lagos for a chain of activities including the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Some of the dignitaries who have visited Tinubu in Lagos include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alake of Egba Land, Oba Aremu Gbadebo; former presidential aspirant Tunde Bakare; suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dismissed speculations of a fallout between himself and President Bola Tinubu, describing the president as his father and leader, News360 Nigeria reports.
Speaking to reporters after the closed-door meeting, Sanwo-Olu said there was no disagreement between them.
“There is nothing at all; he is my father, he is my leader, and we’re grateful that he has given us an audience today,” the Governor stated.
