governor Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos State’s conspicuous absence when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu observed the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at the Eid ground in Dodan Barracks, Lagos, on Friday, June 6, may have confirmed the brewing tension between the duo—godfather and godson.
Standard protocol in government operations demands that when a president attends an event in a state, the governor of that state should also be present. He should be the President’s chief host as a mark of respect and hospitality.
By being unavailable during the event where he should have welcomed the President, Governor Sanwoolu may have breached the protocol and not promoted interfaith harmony as a Christian.
Thediggernews.com observed that while other government functionaries, officials, and dignitaries were present, Governor Sanwoolu was nowhere to be found at a prayer attended by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of State, Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Hamzat, and the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola.
Other functionaries at the Eid ground were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Chairman of the BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; the Group Chief Executive of Oando, Wale Tinubu; and President Tinubu’s friend and longtime ally, Prof. Shaffideen Amuwo, also graced the occasion.
Meanwhile, in a viral video, President Tinubu had intentionally snubbed Governor Sanwoolu, walking past the expectant governor while acknowledging and bantering with other top functionaries at an event.
Tension between the godfather and son heightened when the Lagos State House of Assembly members impeached the Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, a move said to have displeased President Tinubu.
Indications are rife that a power tussle between Governor Sawoolu and Speaker Obasa might have led to the latter’s impeachment, whom the governor feared was becoming influential and powerful in Lagos State’s political configuration.
Speculations abound that the Speaker, in his outright show of influence and power, delayed the governor for over four hours when he presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill. The delay kept not only the Governor waiting but also the party leadership and dignitaries who attended the event.
An allegation, debunked, was also widespread that Governor Sanwoolu, through his associate, Ms Aisha Achimugu, might have, at a time, covertly used money purportedly belonging to Lagos State to fund Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign. Political pundits strongly consider Governor Sanwolu’s acts as a backstabbing, succinctly put, a betrayal.
When writing this report, it is unclear why Governor Sanwoolu did not attend the event where he should have been by the President’s side.