“All is forgiven”, President Tinubu tells Sanwo-Olu

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday announced an end to the feud between himself and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

During a reconciliation meeting at his private residence, President Tinubu assured Governor Sanwo-Olu that “all his sins” have been forgiven, ThisDay newspaper reported.

The president’s declaration followed rumours of a rift between him and the governor.

Present at the meeting were members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the top decision-making organ of the APC in Lagos, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat and other party members.

ThisDay reported that the Chairman of the GAC, Tajudeen Olusi, who welcomed President Tinubu to Lagos, pleaded with the president to have mercy and forgive anyone who may have offended him, especially Mr Sanwo-Olu.

President Tinubu then declared, “It’s all over now. All is forgiven,” prompting Governor Sanwo-Olu and other GAC members to reportedly prostrate before him.

Months long rift

The reason for the strained relationship between Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Tinubu remains unclear, though analysts speculate that the president’s involvement in Mr Obasa’s reinstatement as state assembly speaker might be the trigger.

On 13 January, Mr Obasa was removed as speaker by his fellow lawmakers over allegations of gross misconduct, financial misappropriation and abuse of office. His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was appointed as the speaker of the assembly in his place.

Mr Obasa was also alleged to have disrespected Governor Sanwo-Olu on several occasions.

The speaker, however, got back his seat with the support of President Tinubu. As the months passed, many began to notice the widening gulf between the two leaders.

At the inauguration of the phase 1 section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway on Saturday, President Tinubu snubbed Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Cable reported.

The newspaper reported that the president ignored the governor while he shook hands with other dignitaries at the event.

Mr Sanwo-Olu was conspicuously absent when President Tinubu launched the reconstruction of the deep-seaport access road in the state on Thursday. A seat labelled with the governor’s name was visibly empty, while his deputy, Mr Hamzat, occupied a seat behind it.

Sanwo-Olu denies rift

Meanwhile, Mr Sanwo-Olu denied any discord between himself and President Tinubu, who is also the leader of the APC.

Speaking to reporters after the closed-door meeting, the governor said the rumours of a rift circulated in the media are baseless and untrue.

“Do you see any discord? Can’t you see when we are smiling, I’m smiling? There’s no (feu). He’s my father, he’s my leader,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu clarified that the meeting with the president was a routine courtesy call by the GAC, which was in line with the party’s standard protocol.

“It’s our usual. You know, festive period Council visits and a time for Mr. President to meet with his brothers, leaders of our party… It’s something that they always look forward to,” he said.