By Gift Ishaq
In what can be regarded as taking proactive step to stalibilise Lagos political landscape, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has settled the rift between President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Presidency sources also disclosed that members of the GAC, the highest advisory body of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), brokered the peace between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu on Sunday
The meeting, which took place at the private residence of the President in Ikoyi, Lagos , had in attendance the Chairman of the GAC, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, other members, and some top politicians from Lagos State.
Among those who were present at the meeting but not members of the GAC were the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and other chieftains of the party.
Members of the GAC present included a former representative of Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, and a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
According to sources at the meeting, Olusi, who led the discussion, pleaded with Tinubu to forgive the governor without going into the details of what caused the rift.
Tinubu was said to have accepted this position and pronounced the rift settled. The President reportedly told Sanwo- Olu, “It’s all over now. All is forgiven”.
It is important to note that the rift had resulted in an open denouncement of Sanwo-Olu by Tinubu, who refused to shake hands with him at a public function in Lagos State last week.
Incidentally, Sanwo-Olu was not recognised in a statement by the Presidency when he arrived through the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State for the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Sallah holiday.
A Presidency source also explained that the refusal of Tinubu to exchange handshake with Sanwo-Olu at the commissioning of the Phase 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was his way of showing he was angry with the governor.
The source further claimed that the dispute could be traced to the loss the President suffered in the presidential election in Lagos State in the 2023 election.
The source said Tinubu was furious that while he lost the election to Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Sanwo-Olu won his re-election bid, adding that the belief was that the governor did not pay attention to the presidential election.
But political analysts are of the opinion that the issue became more pronounced when Obasa was removed as Lagos Speaker, allegedly with the backing of Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos Governor has since denied the allegation several times while Obasa has been reinstated to his position.
Speaking after the meeting on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu told the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) that there was no dispute between him and the President.
The Lagos Governor said it was a matter between as father and son, saying that : “Did you see any discord? There is none.
“There are people that believe that they are more Catholic than the Pope. There are things that you see people that cry more than the bereaved.
“Father and son are things we will always ensure that we clear. It’s nothing at all.
“He’s my father, he’s my leader.
“And we are grateful that he has given us the audience today to come in and say hello to him.”
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