2023: Sanwo-Olu’s Purported Replacement With Muri-Okunola, Creates Ripples In Lagos APC …. Supporters Express Concerns

Jide Sanwo-Olu

“Governor Sanwo-Olu was elected for a 4-year tenure which is still ongoing. The matter of replacement of the governor does not arise and is patently subjudice."Are.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu is doing a wonderful job delivering infrastructure projects for Lagos and working daily on making the state better for all its residents.”

 

With permutations, alignment and counter alignments ahead of the 2023 elections taking place across political divides, political leaders and stakeholders have commenced moves to install loyalists into positions that would see to their continued hold onto power.

However, in all of these realignments and permutations, there are reports that the incumbent Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-olu, may not return to office in 2023 owing to already concluded plans by the powers that be in the state to replace him with Hakeem Muri-Okunola, come 2023, as the next governor of Lagos state.

With the purported “selection” of Hakeem Muri-Okunola as the next Lagos State Governor, sources in the know have revealed that the political forces that governor and decide what happens in the commercial capital of Nigeria, reportedly picked the Head of Service (HoS) to emerge as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

This, according to insiders, if allowed to happen, would be history repeating itself just as former governor; Akinwunmi Ambode suffered before the 2019 election.

Though governors in Lagos and Nigeria return for re-election for  a second term in office, Akinwunmi Ambode did not get the endorsement of the party stalwarts who insisted on his exit.

To date, many believe his fallout with powerful APC members and their political leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cost him the opportunity to return re-elected for another four years in office.

The intervention of the presidency and others stopped Ambode’s impeachment. Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa eventually named those who made the House of Assembly soft-pedal.

However, APC elders in the state have described the purported move against Sanwo-Olu as baseless and inaccurate.

The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the most powerful and highest decision making organ, issued a rebuttal at the weekend.

The Secretary, Mutiu Are, accused enemies of plotting to destabilize the APC and cause disaffection among members.

Are debunked the “replacement” claims, noting that the suggestion “is absolutely false and preposterous”.

The scribe said contrary to the impression by merchants of “hate, confusion and disharmony”, there are no discussions on the 2023 ticket.

Are stated that it was “not within the realm of GAC” to engage in picking who becomes Lagos helmsman.

He reminded the public that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to signal the commencement of processes for the next election.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu was elected for a 4-year tenure which is still ongoing. The matter of replacement of the governor does not arise and is patently subjudice.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu is doing a wonderful job delivering infrastructure projects for Lagos and working daily on making the state better for all its residents”, Are added.

The GAC warned those behind the “dangerous, dysfunctional and misguided” information to desist forthwith.

Muri-Okunola, a Tinubu disciple with widespread support in Lagos is close to APC chieftains, the elite, moguls, political and community elders, as well as the traditional institution.

The lawyer and public administrator clocked 50 on January 7, 2022. He is the first son of the late respected Justice Muritala Okunola.

In December 2018, Ambode appointed him as Lagos HoS after Folasade Adesoye retired. Tinubu was said to have made the nomination.