LAGOS—THE much touted disharmony between Governor Fashola and the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Lagos State, peaked, weekend, when members of the state Assembly turned down the list of commissioners submitted by the governor for their consideration and approval.

The Assemblymen are antagonising the governor because he dropped most of the nominees from the party. Sources at the State House of Assembly told Vanguard that the ACN leadership in Lagos had earlier submitted list of some people but Fashola reportedly dropped most of them.

Some big wigs in ACN were said to be poised for a showdown with Fashola shortly after he said before the April elections and during his campaigns that he would choose the best hands as commissioners in his cabinet if returned as governor for a second term in office.


Fashola is known to be disposed to working with technocrats while the powers that be in ACN believe that party loyalists, especially those that stepped down for other candidates during the last primaries, should be compensated.

Vanguard learnt that the list submitted by the governor did not go down well with the 40 member-House of Assembly who have vowed to return the commissioners’ list to the governor today for amendment. The decision to return the list was, however, arrived at after several meetings held at different locations.

Usually reliable sources said the list excludes those that have spent two terms in the cabinet, from 2007 till date while those who were earlier tipped to make a comeback failed. The total number of the commissioners to be on the governor’s list could not be confirmed as at yesterday, but sources said they were well over 30.

According to the reports, Fashola agreed that Mrs. Olukemi Phinero, SAN, could replace the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Sasore. And that Hon. Bosun Jeje could replace Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair.

Dramatic comeback

Other names that made the list include: Lati Raji, a new face; former commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze; former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris; former Commissioner Science and Technology, Obafemi Hamzat; former Commissioner for Establishment, Pension and Training, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa; Oyinlomo Danmole on Central Business District; Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson; Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Project, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal.

The most dramatic comeback out of the lot is the former Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello; who headed the campaign committee for Fashola’s second term bid; former Mushin council boss, Mr. Seye Oladejo; a former state legislator, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal Ojora.

It was learnt that the sharing formula seems to be the reason for the delay of the final lists.

It will be recalled that about 125 curriculum vitaes, CVs, and representations were sent to Governor Fashola and prominent ACN members in the state for possible appointments into the state EXCO.

Last Wednesday, an entourage of the ruling party, ACN, paid a courtesy call on Governor Babatunde Fashola in what seemed to be an agenda setting meeting for his second term with a charge to build on the success recorded in his first term in office.

The ACN entourage was led by the state chairman Chief Henry Ajomale Alhaji S. Sumola, state Vice Chairmen, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Engineer Adesegun Adeseye and others.

Ajomale at that meeting said “Our mission before the elections was that we wanted to ensure that we still have the control of Lagos, that is the Action Congress of Nigeria, apart from that, let me rejoice with you that you have young children now that have just been delivered, because from one, ACN now proudly has six governors, which was possible because the people saw what you demonstrated through progressive governance”,

The party urged the governor not to be too far away from the party saying;”now is the time that your service is needed most,” and assured the governor of the party’s continuous support to ensure success in his second term in office.

Responding, Fashola commended the visitors for their efficiency and hard work during the pre_electioneering campaign, saying that his victory as well as those of the members of the National and State House of Assembly was the product of the self less effort of the party and the trust the electorate have on the ACN.

“We must ensure that we make promises and we keep to them, that where promises become difficult to implement, we must go back to them, share with them the difficulties we are facing, ” he said.

Thank God we are now seeing through all these hypocrites that are condemning Jonathan and are at the same time doing worse. I wonder how they would have finished Nigeria had it been they were given the chance.

What happened to Dr. Muiz Banire? He was one of the more efficient commissioners in the previous administrations.

2bosun:

What happened to Dr. Muiz Banire? He was one of the more efficient commissioners in the previous administrations.

He's not interested, he got a new gig @ the ACN HQ.

Sensationalist headline from the vanguard.

Eko Ile:


He's not interested, he got a new gig @ the ACN HQ.

Are you talking about the national legal adviser position? He's had that for some years now- even while he was commissioner in the previous administrations. I think some people with ambition  are "gently" been sidelined by the leadership of The ACN.

The same thing happened to Senator Mamora- that party supremacy B.S is not exactly democratic is it- especially when they're losing their finest politicians?

warrior01:

The headline is now 'sensationalist' because it concerns your 'perfect' ACN

My 'perfect' ACN? Don't hurt that wall your banging your coconut head on.

2bosun:

Are you talking about the national legal adviser position? He's had that for some years now- even while he was commissioner in the previous administrations. I think some people with ambition  are "gently" been sidelined by the leadership of The ACN.

The same thing happened to Senator Mamora- that party supremacy B.S is not exactly democratic is it- especially when they're losing their finest politicians?

Relax with the rumors and baseless conspiracy theories, this came from the man himself, he's not interested, he got better fish to fry.

Banire, who became a commissioner in Lagos State in 1999 at the age of 31 ruled out the possibility of serving as a member of the State Executive Council under Governor Babatunde Fashola for the next four years.

He explained that more young people should be given the opportunity to contribute their quota to the progress of the state.

The former commissioner said that his primary focus now is to endow his new position at the national secretariat of ACN with honour and visibility as he did in his previous portfolios at the Ministries of Special Duties, Transport and Environment.

He however, said that he would continue to play politics in the state and act as advisers to many actors in the party.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/8033-acn-has-%E2%80%98over-60-petitions-at-tribunals%E2%80%99.html

Anyone still clamouring for Banire to remain a commisioner after 12 years in Alausa needs have himself checked!!!

look at this woman teeth, she is smiling to fashola

hannie:

Anyone still clamouring for Banire to remain a commisioner after 12 years in Alausa needs have himself checked!!!

Being a commissioner is not the only way you can serve in a State Cabinet is it? You need to read, think, and then write- not the other way around!!!