Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu’s Silent Battles

Hon Mudasiru Obasa reclaimed his position as Speaker on March 3, 2025, after a dramatic 49-day stand-off over the control of Lagos State House of Assembly, and he has continued to carry out his duties and responsibilities as head of the state parliament while Hon Mojisola Meranda, who was the face of the ‘civilian coup’, has returned to her position as Deputy Speaker.

Hon Meranda had served as Speaker for 49 days.

What began as ‘quiet conflicts’ in the state APC had led to tensions running high as dramatic scenes involving lawmakers, party supporters and security agencies were enacted at the assembly complex.

It was learned that the president was incensed at the development and was very angry with the lawmakers who removed Obasa because he saw it as a plot to dethrone him as political godfather.

No one had served as Speaker in the state unless he gets nominated by him and this time around someone was removed as Speaker without seeking his approval and another person was bold enough to accept to become the Speaker without getting ‘anointed’.

He felt more incensed that they even lied to some among the lawmakers and other stakeholders that he was the one who gave them the directive to remove Obasa.

‘The president insisted that Obasa must return to his position to prove a point that he is still in control of Lagos State’ said a source.

Speaker Meranda is the younger sister of  Oniru of Iru kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II .

The Iru monarch was the aide de camp to President Bola Tinubu while serving as governor of Lagos State. He later served as commissioner under Mr Raji Fashola, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu before his ascension to the throne in 2020.

It was reliably gathered that the plot to remove Obasa was hatched at his palace before subsequent meetings were held at other locations.

President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Mrs. Remi Tinubu were not comfortable with the idea of removing the Speaker while he was out of the country and without them ‘approving’ such an action.

While the dramas have ended, some political figures that played overt or covert roles in the removal of Obasa have begun to lick wounds and they are worried that it may still have serious consequences.

Leading this pack is Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu, who is currently facing ‘silent battles.

The governor has entered the bad books of the president and his  main ‘promoter’ Chief Mrs Remi Tinubu.

Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu was introduced to the Tinubu political family and Lagos State politics by Mr Femi Pedro, who served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State between 2003 and 2007.

They were together at First Atlantic Bank, and Pedro appointed Sanwo-Olu as his Special Adviser on Corporate Matters in 2003.

The then Governor Bola Tinubu later appointed Sanwo-Olu as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.

Sanwo-Olu served as Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions under Fashola while he was also appointed as Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by Akinwunmi Ambode.

Following the decision taken to stop Ambode from getting renominated by the APC ahead of the 2019  guber election, the search for a Christian who will complete Ambode’s two terms of 8 years for the Christian community began and names like Leke Pitan and others were being suggested.

 While this was going on, Mrs. Remi Tinubu was said to have told the president that the search was unnecessary as Sanwo-Olu, who was a regular visitor at Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, and had become her political godson, will be a good candidate and his loyalty will not be in doubt.

It was however made clear to him that he will spend one term to complete the slot of Christians while a Muslim candidate will emerge in 2023.

Fate however helped Governor Sanwo-Olu in 2023, and he was allowed to go for re-election because Tinubu had taken a decision to go for same-faith presidential ticket.

It was felt that those who were not privy to the agreement may misconstrue it as stopping a Christian from enjoying a second term.

With the developments recorded at the state House of Assembly, the president and his wife regarded it as a ‘coup’ against the political family and not Obasa.

‘Asiwaju is angry and really angry. Almost all his lieutenants joined the cabal to fight him under Buhari . Aregbesola, Banire all of them who he could have tasked with handling things for him in Lagos are gone and only Obasa has been his main man.

They now removed Obasa and replaced him with a woman! It was seen as a way of seeking to weaken his political structure.

The most annoying thing was that Falana and Banire were supporting the lawmakers who carried out the civilian coup. The president was very angry. He considered it as a plot to dethrone him as political godfather in Lagos State’ said a source.

Bird mongers say Mrs. Remi Tinubu has not only expressed her disappointment that the governor could have his name mentioned in connection with the ‘perceived’ plot to weaken her husband’s political structure but also noted that his loyalty is now in doubt.

The governor is now forced to work with Obasa ,who knows he cannot remove him while his ‘godmother’ , Chief Mrs. Remi Tinubu no longer see him as a ‘political godson’.

Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu had since been fighting the ‘silent battles’ and he has been busy seeking to warm his way back to Mrs. Remi Tinubu’s heart ditto the president-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you