Is Governor Sanwo-olu Answerable To Aregbesola?

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Sanwo-olu's continued alignment with Aregbesola still holds strong influence in Lagos politics.


The enduring partnership between Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, and former Osun State Governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, remains a significant force disrupting Lagos political landscape. Recent developments surrounding the appointment of commissioners-designate to the Lagos State House of Assembly underscore the substantial impact of their alliance.


The emergence of candidates from the BATCO Mandate Group, an offshoot of the formerly banned mandate group led by Aregbesola's confidant, Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo, in the list of potential commissioners highlights the depth of their involvement. Investigations reveal that Aregbesola has been orchestrating influential decisions, particularly within Alimosho Local Government and beyond. Despite directives from the Governor's Advisory Council (GAC) for Local Government GAC members to propose three names each for cabinet consideration, the BATCO Mandate Group's submissions were given remarkable weight.


Following these discussions, Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo's BATCO Mandate Group engaged in consultations with Governor Sanwo-olu, leveraging Aregbesola's continuing influence to influence the selection process. Consequently, the final cabinet choices favored individuals aligned with Aregbesola, while those perceived as opposition or lacking closeness were excluded. The impact of this maneuver was felt across numerous constituencies, including Surulere Local Government, where candidates vying for Chief of Staff to the President faced recalibration due to concerns about presidential influence.


In some Local Governments, the BATCO Mandate Group encountered resistance and was not embraced, prompting the Governor to make alternative selections in areas where the group enjoyed popularity. Notably, in Alimosho, despite GAC member, H. E Adejoke Orelope Adefulire's submission of three names, a BATCO Mandate candidate sympathetic to Aregbesola's agenda was favored by the Governor.


This dynamic presents an intriguing scenario: while Aregbesola, who openly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and withheld support for his presidential ambitions, is gaining political clout in Lagos through his rapport with the Governor, staunch supporters of the President who lack ties to Aregbesola find themselves sidelined.


Outraged by their perceived marginalization, members of the state assemblies affected, convened a special plenary session to voice their discontent. They lamented the Governor's apparent disregard for their interests while favoring others in cabinet appointments. This has given rise to accusations of intentional undermining and marginalization by these assembly members and their leaders.


As Lagos enters its next phase of political evolution, the unexpected resurgence of Rauf Aregbesola's political machinery through his protege casts a compelling narrative. Aregbesola's gains in Lagos seem to compensate for losses he experienced in Osun State, as he leverages his alliance with the Lagos Governor for increased influence and political prominence.

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