Lagos 2023: Sanwo-Olu builds structures for second tenure, scuttles APC power shift

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has begun a process of building structure for his electioneering campaign and lobby for a second tenure in the 2023 general elections on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Some groups have taken up the responsibilities of mobilizing support for the governor to win the hearts of APC leaders in Lagos State, including the godfather, the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the Lagos APC governorship ticket in 2023.

Party sources in Lagos disclosed that Governor Sanwo-Olu has learned from the mistakes of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who lost the chance for a second tenure at the last minute after receiving wide endorsement from APC stalwarts in Lagos, including the state’s representatives in the National Assembly, Abuja.

The incident threw up Governor Sanwo-Olu in September 2018 as the APC governorship candidate to replace former Governor Ambode who had taken one tenure, representing Lagos East senatorial district in the power shift arrangement in the state. The obstruction of Ambode’s second tenure, left one tenure for the Lagos East, which eventually Sanwo-Olu was picked to compete with the APC ticket in the 2019 election.

The party source said that Governor Sanwo-Olu, learning from the Ambode experience, allegedly opened Lagos State government to the patronage of the ruling party leaders in the state, permitting wide space of patrimony in governance. This, the party source said, slowed down the performance of the governor in the past two and a half years.

It was gathered that former Governor Ambode had insisted that the resources of Lagos State will be wholly committed to providing good governance for the development of the state and improvement of the living standard of citizens in the state. This was said to have snowballed into the massive infrastructure development in Lagos State between 2015 and 2019 – Ambode’s first tenure.

Ambode also liberalized the law enforcement agencies of the state during his tenure, taking the VIO off Lagos roads, rather than arrest of people crossing the roads where there are bridges, the governor provided barricades would make the people use the pedestrian bridges as the only means of moving to the other side of the road.

All the populism policies turned out to be  offence against party leaders in the state. Ambode was, then, perceived to have stepped on toes in Lagos State, including his mentor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The former governor had been endorsed by notable stakeholders in Lagos State for a second tenure, including representatives of the State in the National Assembly, lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, 57 Local Government Chairmen, and various groups in the State APC. Suddenly, the party leaders sprang up in July 2018 to reverse the endorsements, and anointed Sanwo-Olu to succeed Ambode.
As the build up to the 2023 general election is garnering momentum, Governor Sanwo-Olu, according to party source, has deployed a strong lobby group to secure the approval of APC leaders in the state for the ticket of the party for a second tenure. The party source further revealed that some other groups have been purportedly deployed to rally support from other popular APC members in the state, who beside their direct support, could assist in lobbying the kingmakers in the party.

One tool Sanwo-Olu has adopted in his first tenure, the party source said, is unalloyed loyalty to the APC national leader, Tinubu. The governor never questions whatever the leader said or directed; the party source added. He noted that former Governor Ambode didn’t do the same.

The presidential ambition of Tinubu may be a factor Sanwo-Olu may also capitalize on in requesting for a second tenure ticket of the state party. Neither Tinubu nor the state APC would allow anything that would stimulate conflicts in the state party. Invariably, certain demands may be considered for approval for the unity and cohesion of APC in Lagos State.

However, there was an insinuation that Governor Sanwo-Olu has gone on – fasting and prayer – to find favour with the kingmakers, and party leaders in Lagos. It was also said that the governor further extended his mobilization and network to Abuja for additional support.

According to a source: “He is fasting and praying with his family to secure a second term…

“Fate may work in his favour. One of the things to first consider is that he is more subservient to Tinubu than Ambode. Ambode was more ambitious, bolder, and assertive than Sanwo-Olu.

“Even some political leaders in the state…are of the feeling that Sanwo-Olu might be lucky because he is not too assertive, he is not vindictive, that is what he has going for him.”

It was added that Sanwo-Olu from the beginning, has been cautious not to rock the boat or step on toes, as Ambode did.

The source, therefore, added, “Sanwo-Olu has been faithfully abiding to every instruction issued by Tinubu and this may work in his favour.
“Tinubu has his eyes on Abuja. He is likely to be preoccupied with that ambition, which may favour him or not and it is likely to impede his control on Lagos and by doing so, he may allow the governor to go for a second term.”

There was a critical issue that may stand in the way of Sanwo-Olu, the insinuation that Tinubu intends to sponsor his son, Seyi, for the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State. The perceived plan was, however, said to be opposed by certain party stakeholders in the state.

The party source noted: “Another factor is that of his son, Seyi. Most of the party leaders are vehemently opposed to the plan…”

Other aspirants for the Lagos State governor in 2023 have been watching the political moves of the governor. Some have noted that Sanwo-Olu would be completing the second tenure of Lagos East in the power rotation arrangement in the state, and that the governor should be zoned to another district – the Lagos West or Lagos Central – to start the second phase of power rotation in the state.

Some of the aspirants identified with the race for the APC 2023 governorship ticket include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Olajide Adediran, Convener of the Lagos4Lagos, known as Jandor; including two principal officers of the state government at the State Secretariat, Alausa.

Meanwhile, no one has formally declared to contest the 2023 governorship election in the state.