The battle for Lagos - Tax issues, road contracts tear Tinubu, Fashola apart

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 13.12.2009

NOTWITHSTANDING the series of denials, Sunday Tribune can authoritatively reveal that loyalists of the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are set to serve impeachment notice on the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola any moment from now.

As a prelude to the release of the impeachment notice, the State House of Assembly is set to release the report of a budget performance of the state in 2009.

Besides, a review of the budget 2010 estimates submitted to the House of Assembly by Governor Fashola has also been collated, and the Assembly is also set to release some damaging aspects of budget review to further dampen the governor’s bright image among the people.

Sources contend that the Tinubu camp had been having some running battles with Fashola from his first day in office and that an association of mutual suspicion has been existing between them.

It was gathered that immediately Fashola became governor, some of those close to him prompted him to question the continued control of the state’s political apparatus by Tinubu.
A source also said that the state government toyed with the idea of reviewing the tax consultancy regime foisted on the state by Tinubu’s administration, which ensured that the consultancy company takes home 10 percent of the state’s earnings on a monthly basis.

Sources had suggested that the bulk of those earnings were being repatriated back to his predecessor in office and that allowing a former political office holder access to such funds could be dangerous to the incumbent.

It was also suggested to Fashola that it would pay him to be his own man and that merely tagging along as Tinubu’s ‘boy’ would be counterproductive to his politics.

Initial skirmishes according to sources were promptly resolved at the instance of the Oba of Lagos Oba Akiolu, who was said to have called the duo of Fashola and Tinubu together and asked them to work together.

While the initial dust settled, further disagreements were to arise from the award of road rehabilitation contracts by Fashola. Two major roads, the Lekki-Epe and the Badagry Expressways contracts were said to have featured prominently in the division that has crept into the midst of the Tinubu camp and Fashola, upon which the impeachment plot is being built.

It was gathered that while Fashola agreed to suggestions of his predecessor on the award of some internal roads to certain contractors, the Tinubu’s camp move to influence the award of the two major express ways met with stiff resistance.

While Fashola abandoned the control of politics to Tinubu, he focused on infrastructural development and the results started showing within the first year.

He instantly became the shinning example of governance in Nigeria and that, to the chagrin of the Tinubu camp.

Now as a way of curtailing the Fashola challenge, which is said to have eclipsed all achievements of the former governor, some contractors, believed to have sympathy for the Tinubu camp have slowed down their work in the last six months.

But a source said that Fashola was actually choked by the demands of his godfather, who it was said had made himself appear the man in charge of politics and government in Lagos State.

Some elders in the state said that Fashola had to lie low after reading the true nature of the political structure of Lagos under the Action Congress (AC).

Tinubu is the de facto leader and the determinant of all issues in the party. He also funded the election of all members of the House of Assembly and all of them see him as their leader.

They also continue to see Fashola as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff even two years after he became the governor.

A source said that that is the reason the Assembly members are angered after hearing of the skirmishes between Tinubu and Fashola.

Besides, Fashola has continued to rely on the media machine set up by Tinubu to project his government, while failing to court the media in his own way.

He is also said to have failed to allow what is described as a (jeun soke) lobbying regime, which would ensure that the political godfathers are well placed financially such that they could always allow the effects to trickle down.

The traditional institution in the state is also said to be suffering from the due process approach of Fashola, with no special favours going towards them, unlike the Tinubu era.

The lawmakers in the House are said to be particularly angered that while the governor is a product of the Tinubu school of politics, which places high premium on lobbying, Fashola has refused to allow them influence on the budgets, especially in a way that would afford them political patronage.

“This governor, unlike his boss, does not dispense political patronages. When he calls meetings of monarchs and political leaders, he will only shake hands with them at the end of the day. Some political leaders were angry after one of the meetings and they had to report to Tinubu, who pleaded with them and had to send ‘messages’ round,” a source said.

Other sources said that Fashola is not learning from his boss, who took the advice of some Alliance for Democracy leaders in 1998 upon his return from his sojourn abroad.

It was gathered that Tinubu was advised to take both the media and the traditional institution seriously if he was to make a headway in Nigerian politics. The source said that Tinubu took the advice and he is today a tiger in the media.

Apart from the failing political patronage, Fashola has also fallen victim of the 2011 calculations. Tinubu’s camp it was said, has calculated that Fashola would become a much more difficult customer if he is retained as governor in 2011.

He is said to have demonstrated single mindedness on crictical issues, especially issue of funding of AC outside Lagos.

It was said that Tinubu had directed the governor to take over the sponsorship of AC’s activities at the national level as well as its activities in Osun, Ekiti and Oyo States but that Fashola reneged.

Tinubu’s camp thus felt that Fashola would become much more difficult if he retains the office in 2011.

Former Transport Commissioner, Muiz Banire is the favoured candidate to take over from Fashola, but the calculation, according to sources, is that the House can even get him out early enough through impeachment.

In view of Fashola’s rising profile among the populace, his traducers are resolved to take his sins to the public and then paint him as a corrupt man.

One of the sins is that his purchase of security helicopters were against the grain of due process and that the companies that handled the purchase is related to his brothers.

“The governor is going to be charged with nepotism and abuse of office,” a source said.

On the performance of the budget, the governor is being charged with failure to implement budgets as passed by the House and disregard for members of the House of Assembly, who see themselves as his seniors in the political party.

The result of the combined alleged failures of Fashola, it was gathered, is that the governor remains vulnerable to attacks both at the political end and within the media.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji is said to be the arrowhead of the ongoing plot against Fashola and he was the first to blow the lid on the rift when he told the governor to beware of praise singers during the 2010 budget presentation.

But the government of Lagos State has continued to insist that the Fashola/Tinubu relationship remains cordial.

In a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele late on Friday, the government dismissed what it called media reports, innuendos and speculations of the rifts between tinubu and Fashola.

The commissioner said that “Tinubu has never mounted any pressure on the State Governor and Government and any such report is mischievous, wicked and malicious.

“It is also not true that Governor Fashola had twice nearly resigned following illicit demands and indecent pressure and harassment on him. This is totally baseless, unfounded and a figment of warped imagination.

“Governor Babatunde Fashola, would like to dissociate himself from these ugly speculations and this diabolic scheme of dreaming up conflicts where there are none.

“He claims no exclusive credit for any achievement. Whatever credits he claims are to the extent that he was lucky among other talents to have been chosen to continue whatever schemes and programmes his illustrious predecessor started ñ and that is about everything, including the BRT and Waste-to-Wealth programme, which meticulous planning and clinical execution could not have been a product of less than six years.”

agabaI23:

Lagosian should besiege the house of assembly if this is true.

Any privileged infor is welcome.

Kobojunkie:

WOW!!! This is like something from some Politics "TWILIGHT zone".

Lagosians have NOT been a part of this government on the majority. Most of what we have had are people sitting on the sidelines CHEERING it on, but not really wanting to get INVOLVED in the day to day running of affairs of the state.

agabaI23:

Well this is the time for those cheering from the sidelines to make their voices heard. One man who wants to do it right is about to face the maffia.
He should not do it alone.
I think even well meaning Nigerian should come from neighbouring states to support a 'Leave Fashiola alone Rally'

OAM4J:

Tinubu will be committing a political suicide if he tries it. It will be the beginning of his end. Irrespective of whatever he has against Fasola, this is the wrongest time to attack him.

Kobojunkie:

What I said is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from what you have it meaning above. 

Kobojunkie:

I have NO dreams of becoming a member of the cheerleaders club. What I meant was that LAGOSIANS have mostly not been a part of the decision making process and so, I see no reason why they should be called in NOW. The man is simply dealing with his "God father". Last I checked, Tinubu helped the man get elected, and has been sort of a God father to the present governor. Abi una go talk say na lie now? 

Instead, I believe the call should be for lagosians to take back government, make it theirs.

agabaI23:

Gotcha. However I think your last sentence relates to my understanding of the cheering in your first post . . lol
One thing I have come to understand is that as far as the people are not standing for their votes to count, it will always take the godfathers to get to the position of governance.

agabaI23:

This means that even those who do not subscribe to Godfatherism will have to follow that route as a means to an end.

agabaI23:

I do not think the masses should let him stand alone because he is falling out with his Godfather in other to serve the masses.

agabaI23:

Don't you think that the detractors will think twice if the masses resist any such moves? That could count as a step towards taking back their government methink.

The event which featured Agidigbo traditional drummings, atilogu dancers, angwu and a sprinkle of eyo masquerade on display also had fuji music king, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal on band stand.

It was also an opportunity for former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola to show to everyone that there was no feud between them.

The first proof was the arrival of the duo together at the stadium which was heralded by jubilation from party supporters.

When it was time to make speeches, it was yet another chance for Tinubu and Fashola to convince everyone present that all was well between them as the two of them walked to the podium together.

Perhaps, to lay the rumour rift to a final rest, Governor Fashola while delivering his address referred to Tinubu as the “Asiwaju of the World, my leader and mentor”.

A surprise appearance at the Convention was governorship candidate of Democratic Party Alliance, DPA, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, giving an indication that he may have returned to AC.

A possible confirmation of this was when Wasiu Ayinde in singing Agbaje’s praises when he was introduced sang in Yoruba saying, “Welcome back home”.

In his address, Governor Fashola, said: ‘Former governors, especially my leader, my mentor, the Asiwaju of the world.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/12/12/atiku-accuses-pdp-of-blackmailing-opposition/

agabaI23:

Gotcha. However I think your last sentence relates to my understanding of the cheering in your first post . . lol

One thing I have come to understand is that as far as the people are not standing for their votes to count, it will always take the godfathers to get to the position of governance.

This means that even those who do not subscribe to Godfatherism will have to follow that route as a means to an end.
I do not think the masses should let him stand alone because he is falling out with his Godfather in other to serve the masses.
Don't you think that the detractors will think twice if the masses resist any such moves? That could count as  a step  towards taking back their government methink.

The purchase on Monday of two helicopters by the state government without the knowledge of the House of Assembly also seems to have stoked the fires. The acquisition of the two helicopters took place on Monday, shortly before reports started emerging about a possible impeachment attempt

mekusxxx:

From your website

So Fash instituted an NGO, forces/persuades/cajoles/hoodwinks people to donate money into it and then turns round to award a contract for the purchase of helicopters with the same money to his brothers. Interesting scenario.

When asked if he was aware, as the chairman of the House Committee on Security, of the issue of the helicopters, he said, “I am not complaining. The Security Trust Fund is not a government institution; it is not an agency under the purview of the state government. It’s an agency initiated by the government and funded by outsiders. It’s not an agency of the government, so I cannot go there and ask them to open their book.”

mekusxxx:

Just wait until the ''rumour'' (note the quotes) unravels.

The Security Trust Fund is not a government institution; it is not an agency under the purview of the state government. It’s an agency initiated by the government and funded by outsiders. It’s not an agency of the government, so I cannot go there and ask them to open their book.”

Aloy~Emeka:


Nairalanders and their fish brain. Do these Fashola apologists think that either  Fashola or Tinubu  will agree there is a rift between them in the media?.