Governor Fasola

There are growing indication that things are no longer at ease between a once beloved political godfather, former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his anointed political godson, Governor Babatunde Fasola, SAN, of Lagos State. Governor Fasola is desperately trying to wrench himself free from the overbearing control typically exercised above him by his immediate predecessor.

According to an inside sources within the Lagos State Government, Fasola is trying very hard to stop the payment of the difficult-to-justify monthly N50 Million up keep allowance for Tinubu.

The illegal N50 Million monthly grant to Tinubu, to avoid being traced, is often routed through an Abuja based commercial bank.

Tinubu had been linked with an elaborate scam that led to the creaming off of about $32 Million of the $108 Million council funds recently paid to Lagos State by the Federal Government. 

Gov. Bola Tinubu

Governor Fasola recently began moves to reshuffle his cabinet and was met with subtle resistance from Tinubu who feels such move is an attempt to remove his loyalists and further reduce his influence within the administration. Tinubu nominated more than half of the commissioners and special advisers currently serving in the present administration in Lagos State.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that Fasola also wants to begin a process of building his own legacy by swiftly moving against redundant political jobbers planted in various government establishments in the state while Tinubu was Governor. The political jobbers were principally recruited from the street where they were as “Area Boys” and they function as mere moles in the administration helping Tinubu to keep a tab on every move being made by the incumbent.

Some of the moles within Fasola’s administration and key Action Congress, AC, Members were said to have openly complained to Tinubu that the Governor have not been “reaching out.”

Inside sources said Governor Fasola had complained to some political friends about the continue meddlesomeness of Tinubu in the current administration especially in the award of contracts, commissioning of projects and decision making.

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The Governor is said to have expressed concerns that the monthly N50 Million to the former Governor is not justifiable but have found it difficult to discontinue the payment which was a secret pact between both at the inception of Fasola’s administration.

According to a source “you know the Governor is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and he would not want to lose that so he is trying with care to make sure asiwaju does not get offended if he stops the monthly allowance or any other benefits.”

Sources who crave anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue said that the godfather, Tinubu, took some actions while in office some of which Fasola inherited and has now become a huge embarrassment and clog to the smooth running of the Government. For example, the illegal allocation of Lagos State properties on the ground of political patronage is being revisited and sometimes revoked by Fasola.

Also, certificate of occupancy legitimizing many illegal structures in the state are being annulled and such structures being demolished. Owambe, open air night parties which usually cause traffic bottleneck, a practice encouraged by Tinubu, all over the state is now being declared illegal by Fasola.

To avoid the detection of open hostility between the two political juggernauts, Fasola helps Tinubu to clear the mess in form of paper trail concerning various financial crimes being investigated against him (Tinubu) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Sources said that Fasola is “careful and meticulous, he proceeds with caution in order not to rock the boat of things in Lagos.”

An element of self preservation is also said to be involved on the part of Fasola. He and Tinubu had smuggled, through the back door a company which declared open snub against Nigeria and its people, Chagoury and Chagoury. Chagoury and Chagoury upon return back to Nigeria changed their name to Hitech Construction Company. For every deal perfected with the company, Fasola and Tinubu receive their cut and that makes it increasingly difficult to simply part ways.

 

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