The 2019 general elections may have come and gone but certainly not without leaving behind some memories that have lingered. Such memories include the upstaging and the demystification of strong man of Kwara state politics, the immediate past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and exclusion of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidates in places like Zamfara and Rivers State, from the ballot, among other unprecedented incidents.
Another incident that happened during that period is that of the immediate past governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was unable to return for a second term on account of his feud with the APC power brokers in the state. Having run contrary to the rules of the power brokers, another man in the person of eventual winner of the election, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was picked to replace him. He however went ahead to run for the primary in which he was defeated. Upon his denial, many had thought he would be compensated with a ministerial post, but the powerful people whose toes he had stepped, were bent on grounding his political career, hence, they made sure he was dropped from the ministerial list, two weeks to the announcement. Ambode has since become lived in self –imposed exile until during the yuletide that he breezed I to the country and out.
The incumbent governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, not long ago, sources revealed was about embarking on a journey that would have pitched him against the power brokers, but perhaps for the fear of not ending up in the same shoes as his predecessor, Sanwo-Olu, it was learnt quickly retraced his steps and made up with the necessary people.
What would have set him on collision course with the ‘king makers’ in the state, it was learnt was the choice of who become the traditional ruler of Ilara, a community in Epe axis. The former chairman Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, Folarin Ogunsanwo, who signified interest in the vacant stool, sources revealed had backing of the power wing in the state, while the governor was also said to be interested in fixing another person for the seat. The governor, it was learnt felt his powers and authority were been trapped upon with the fact that the candidate been backed by others was having upper hand, hence, he was reported to have been angry.
He was also alleged to have been angry, that he confronted his aide who is in charge of such affair to demand to whom his loyalty was. At a point when the governor discovered these power brokers were about drawing battle lines with him and set a distance between them, the exact way they started with Ambode, Sanwo-Olu, it was learnt quickly retraced his steps and personally reached out to these powerful individuals and ensured the situation was brought under control. Sources confirmed the governor personally invited one of the power brokers to witness presentation of the 2020 budget to the House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, all has since returned to normal even as Prince Ogunsanwo now confirmed as the Oba-elect of Ilara. Lot of processes towards enthroning him as the next Alara, are being observed ahead the final stage, where he will be presented the staff of office and crowned.
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