When Governor Sanwo-Olu was to represent a cupboard for his second time period round August-September 2023, the Lagos Home of Meeting, the official clearing home for such issues, opted to present the governor a bit of headache. However on the finish of the day, the 17 nominees out of the 39, that have been initially denied clearance obtained the nod of the lawmakers, after some intervention. That seemed to be an uncommon growth for Lagos and a few, together with this author, expressed some fear.
To try to make sense of that face-off, which appeared uncalled for, besides to simply flex muscle, one tried to do an appreciation of it right here in an article revealed on September 11, 2023, titled: Lagos: That flexing of muscular tissues over commissioner-nominees.
To stand up to hurry with the eventual sacking of former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa final week, the 4 opening paragraphs of that article are reproduced.“That flexing of muscular tissues in Lagos between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, over the checklist of commissioner-nominees is on the floor a minor matter that might have been trashed through cellphone chats between the 2 political leaders. But it surely dragged past what Lagosians have been used to. Third events joined the fray, along with commentators, some who have been fast to put culpability, cleverly avoiding to hyperlink a complicit hegemony.
“As we all know already, related face-offs are rampant in different jurisdictions throughout the nation. In some, you can’t query the chief government of the state over his checklist of commissioner-nominees or whomever he decides to rent to help his work. You can’t even debate any matter with some governors, discuss much less invite them to hearken to a physique that has no point out within the Structure.
“As they are saying in native parlance, who born you to question the governor on no matter topic he decides upon below his command? You may try this exterior his ruling get together, the place opposition characters rant perpetually and nobody hears them. Within the first place, who’s a speaker to problem a few of our governors? In any case, who appointed the speaker and from the place will he draw the vitality to have interaction in media interviews the place he refers back to the governor as a colleague, and muster the heart to problem his choices? It’s no exaggeration if one laments that almost all governors have their legislature of their internal pockets. In Lagos, the legislature is clearly not within the governor’s pocket, however there are greater pockets designed for that project.
“Possibly we’re jolted due to the optics we’re used to, of a Lagos that’s infallible, a democratic mannequin with the three arms working harmoniously and each aspect holding religiously to their aspect of the cut price since 1999. There should be some spell that steadies such rhythm, stopping it from shattering into items.’’
That rhythm was shattered final Monday, when in his absence, Obasa was dethroned. That September 2023 article went a bit into historical past, of how Lagos and the Southwest have been politically midwifed by Afenifere to herald the Fourth Republic in 1998/99. Afenifere was once the Southwest Politburo, whose choices have been ultimate.
However after 2003, Afenifere was demystified, as a result of acts of omission and fee that aided the invasion of the zone by the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) and former president Obasanjo. Solely Lagos State survived that onslaught, and the medal went to the astute Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who weathered the storm and did a second time period, whereas the PDP appropriated the opposite 5 states. Tinubu then started to consolidate his personal political construction in Lagos and within the capability of a sole proprietor, he has put in three governors after him and ensured a fragile balancing among the many arms of presidency.
When the previous Speaker, Obasa unnerved Sanwo-Olu over his nominee-commissioners checklist, discerning Lagosians conjectured that couldn’t have occurred with out the data of Tinubu, who although had develop into President, wouldn’t be too busy to desert his political construction in Lagos for boys to mismanage.
What made that stalemate intriguing whereas it lasted was the seeming helplessness of the governor, as if prompters within the back-stage needed him to sweat a bit, to safe some cut price for themselves and supporters. The speaker on that event was clearly on a mission however couldn’t have acted alone. It was extra like a contrived ambush.
The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), confirmed as much as save the day for the governor, usually. This physique has no constitutional point out however is influential within the affairs of the state. A supply mentioned Tinubu created the GAC to achieve a foothold of politics of the state and assist administer the grassroots effectively.
For his or her efforts, the supply claimed they’re paid month-to-month allowance and benefit from the leverage to push names for cupboard appointments and for election. Nothing stops the GAC from stoking confusion, to troubleshoot and achieve relevance.
As reported, the GAC had been working behind the scene to deal with the sacked speaker’s malfeasances. They have been mentioned to have held courtroom with President Tinubu through the Christmas/New Yr break, throughout which complaints concerning the former speaker featured prominently. Obasa was reported to be on the periods, the place he apparently had the chance to current his personal aspect, and was admonished to be of fine conduct. In response to report, he was made to prostrated earlier than the elders, to display reverence and repentance.
However the glory had departed and the backing of the godfathers had expired. He had outlived his usefulness. Too many theories have been thrown round to justify his ousting however there could also be hidden truths which are meant for the covens. One of many GAC members mentioned the previous speaker had develop into an emperor. The query to ask is how was he in a position to dominate his colleagues for that lengthy with no severe resistance?
If probed additional, that may yield proof of a shared culpability. Obasa alone couldn’t be responsible of the weighty fraud allegations which are peddled. The optics don’t attest to that, because the Home appeared snug together with his emperorship whereas it lasted. It didn’t appear like the Home rebelled in opposition to him on their volition. And if it was a spell, Obasa will need to have taken a cue from the chief.
That speaks to the standard of legislative illustration within the Fourth Republic (typically, not simply Lagos), the place the processes of recruitment are sometimes hijacked by the godfathers. Main elections into political workplaces should not allowed to be free and honest. An aspirant should be advisable by an influential bigwig to achieve the endorsement of get together homeowners.
Normally, character, capability and competence should not on the desk. The outcomes are largely lower and paste people with uncertain mental and intuitional pedigree, in addition to malleable legislatures which are simply pocketed by governors and their godfathers. They don’t owe allegiance to their constituents whose votes advisable them, however are fast to acknowledge their godfathers.
It was instructive that the primary public act by the brand new management of the Lagos Meeting was to pay a courtesy name on the GAC members, to within the phrases of the brand new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, “acquire their blessings.” Constitutionally, making legal guidelines for the individuals of Lagos, or Edo, Rivers or wherever, doesn’t require the blessing of some godfathers. However that’s the means democracy is fabricated on this clime to allocate possession to godfathers.
Fawning and surrendering to 3rd events that aren’t constitutionally recognised is a blight on democracy. It deprives the parliament of the independence it owns to make legal guidelines on behalf of the individuals. The Structure that created and empowered the legislature doesn’t acknowledge the supremacy of one other physique that may in any means and method manipulate legislative actions for the advantage of slim pursuits. The legislative Home for Lagos, Centre of Excellence, can do much better.
The much less adumbrated of Obasa’s sins, his want to run as governor of the state come 2027, may very well be his main undoing. The so-called disrespect for the governor might have been pardoned. In any case, his acts of legislative conceitedness by no means stopped Sanwo-Olu from doing his job.
If respect for the governor meant a lot to the homeowners of Lagos, are they not conscious of the scenario in Rivers State, the place practically all people disrespects Governor Siminalayi Fubara? Legislative enterprise in Rivers is in shambles, courtesy the actions of huge individuals on this authorities. It’s double requirements to want concord in Lagos and sow discord in Rivers. That’s an apart.
For his subterranean plots and uncritical verbal self-helps, Obasa didn’t realise that he was set to unsteady the apple cart. Kickstarting 2027 with out due regards for the chief’s timing and fixtures, was merely reckless.
Even outsiders know that the following set of elections can be a check for President Tinubu to show that his 2023 presidential victory was no fluke. The presidential election of 2023 demystified Tinubu and nowhere was that extra telling than in Lagos, the place he misplaced the election by a noticeable margin.
Profitable the 2023 Lagos governorship exerted huge strain on the chief and his workforce. The whole lot was put into it, together with invocation of historical (conventional) powers and deployment of masquerades to achieve electoral benefit.
For 2027, understanding that the common voter has grown cautious and suspicious of presidency’s hardship insurance policies, and within the occasion that the electoral umpire adheres to its guidelines, it is not going to be strategic to go away something to probability.
Subsequently, the candidate to signify the ruling get together in Lagos should not be a run-of-the-mill politician with a uncertain identification. The recruitment course of should be thorough and the errors of 2023 sufficiently addressed. Lagos State should brace as much as set the suitable temper and tone that can catalyse synergy throughout the nation.
From the surface, that appears like message that was subtly handed; that no person is simply too huge to be axed within the job to consolidate President Tinubu’s ambition of a life time.One hopes the opposition events in Lagos should not asleep.
