… Appointment of wife as VC causes disquiet in Lagos APC

… still eying Lagos Governor seat

Tunji Bello or TB as he is fondly called has been in the corridors of power in Lagos State for over 20 years. He has officially served as head of parastatals , commissioner twice and Secretary to the State Government and unofficially he has served as the numero uno hatchet man for Bola Tinubu the self proclaimed Godfather of Lagos Politics. This hatchet role which has seen him undermine two Governors - Fashola and Ambode has earned him rewards beyond his imagination as young journalist in the defunct Concord newspaper .
His unassuming and somewhat fine boy docile mien is very deceptive and masks a shrewd , ruthless and ambitious apparatchik in Bola Tinubu’s politburo.
He has told anybody who cares to listen that his religion is Bola Tinubu and that he was pencilled down for Governor of Lagos State if not for ill health that scuttled that temporarily plan.
He is also reported to have over the years quietly acquired a vast real estate portfolio in lekki , Ajah , Ikeja areas and is also major player in the waste disposal business amongst other business . He is reported to have the unfettered ear of Bola Tinubu and is more powerful than the Governor who is generally viewed as a place holder.
Out of the original gang of Tinubu’s “button” men it is he who has remained in Government protecting Tinubu’s interest and acting as a snitch on successive Governors.
It has become so bad that Bello has become somewhat of a deity in the Lagos State Government to be worshipped by all and sundry.
Arrogance has apparently set in and he boasted that his wife Professor Ibiyinka Bello would clinch the coveted LASU VC position no matter whose ox was gored and even the Governor could not stop it and as he said ….so it came to pass to the chagrin of Lagos indigenes who have cried foul.
In the political terrain the husband Tunji Bello is the Commissioner of the powerful Environment ministry with billions of Naira budget while the wife is the VC of the State flagship tertiary institution also controlling billions of Naira. This abnormally is causing serious disquiet in Lagos political circles as to why these two positions are being monopolised by one family when there are other loyal party men and women that can fill at least one of these positions.
A top party leader who refused to be named insisted that Tunji Bello should resign honourably or be removed to promote fairness and equity.
Time will tell if the Governor Sanwoolu has the guts to remove Tunji Bello or even suggest it to Tinubu his mentor recuperating in London .
As 2023 looms political watchers are wondering whether Tunji Bello has been placated by his wife’s controversial appointment as VC or is the dark horse eying the Governor seat and will seek to undermine Sanwoolu in the coming months to achieve his dream.
Remi Odusote
Ojo.