The cat and rat game between the executive and legislative arms of government in Lagos State over the battle for control of Lagos State seems to be fading out as Governor Babatunde Fashola and the House of Assembly members are now in good term after the governor has allegedly greased the palms of the lawmakers with about N1.5 billion to win their support in his quest for a second term in office.
It will be recalled that few months ago, the relationship between Fashola and the lawmakers, who are loyal to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was sour until the intervention of some prominent chieftains of the then Action Congress (AC) who persuaded the governor to dance to the tune of the lawmakers for him to win their support.
According to Weekend News Star investigation, for Fashola to silence the lawmakers, he allegedly gave N35 million to each of the 40 members of the House of Assembly and the money was said to be given in US dollars, while the leadership of the House got more for them to sheathe their swords against Fashola.
It was gathered that Fashola was forced to succumb to the lawmakers when it became clear to him that the Tinubu camp was about to instigate the House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against him, by raising some allegations bordering on the governor’s mode of operation and award of contracts.
With the development, Fashola has now been given 80 per cent assurance to run for second term by the lawmakers.
Therefore, ahead of the 2011 general elections in Lagos State, the battle for the soul of the state between Fashola and Tinubu is taking another dimension as both of them have commenced plans to stop each other from having total control of the state, especially the Lagos State House of Assembly come 2011.
Investigation by Weekend News Star revealed that Fashola and Tinubu who have been at loggerheads in the last few months over the 2011 governorship election are now having sleepless nights, planning to outdo each other in the coming elections to have the total control of the state.
Fashola is working tirelessly to achieve his second term ambition, while Tinubu is plotting to stop him by rooting for another candidate to replace the incumbent.
According to a reliable source (name withheld), the battle for the soul of Lagos State in 2011 has now shifted to the state House of Assembly as both Tinubu and Fashola are planning to install their loyalists in the House of Assembly for them to have total control of the state.
Meanwhile, Fashola who is bent on running for a second term despite persuasion from Tinubu’s camp to abandon his governorship ambition and run for the position of the vice president or go for a seat in the Senate has now made it clear that for him to govern the state without distraction, he will work tirelessly to ensure that his loyalists are elected as members of the state House of Assembly in 2011.
The fear in Tinubu’s camp that if Fashola should have his way and be given the majority in the House of Assembly, he will be able to fight Tinubu to a standstill because presently Tinubu has about 35 members of the House on his side.
“Tinubu is calculating seriously how to stop Fashola from having total control of the state from in 2011 because he believes that Fashola will fight him if he gets the second term ticket.  This is because of his credible performance in the state in the last three years, beating Tinubu’s records,” a source disclosed to Weekend News Star.
The major trick to sway Fashola from contesting is the dummy that he should forget his second term ambition and be a running mate to former EFCC chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, who is likely to get the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential ticket. When that attempt failed, they  told him to run for the Senate on account that his voice would be more respected on national issues, considering his background and vast experience in constitutional matters.
Fashola, however, turned down the two offers on account that he would not leave certainty to pursue uncertainty since he was sure he would win the 2011 governorship election.