Lagos, June 2025 — A week after President Bola Tinubu publicly appeared to snub Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, a significant act of mediation was undertaken by the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC). The council visited the President at his Ikoyi residence, where dramatic scenes of contrition unfolded and political tensions were seemingly resolved.
The Snub That Sparked a Storm
On 31 May 2025, during the inauguration of the first 30 km stretch of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, President Tinubu bypassed Governor Sanwo‑Olu—shaking hands with other dignitaries while ignoring the Lagos helmsman .
Widely circulated videos and eyewitness accounts captured the moment, stirring discussion about deepening rifts between mentor and protégé .
Analysts suggest the fallout was fueled by internal turbulence in the Lagos State Assembly—most notably, the impeachment and reinstatement of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa—a situation perceived as a rebuke of Governor Sanwo‑Olu .
The GAC’s Intervention
On 8–9 June 2025, GAC chairman Tajudeen Olusi led a delegation to seek reconciliation, pleading for President Tinubu’s forgiveness for the governor and others who had allegedly “fallen out of favour” .
Reportedly, Tinubu responded: “It’s all over now. All is forgiven.” Sources note he instructed the group to proceed with the July local government elections and move on .
Demonstrating symbolic submission, Sanwo‑Olu and GAC members were said to have prostrated before the President in a gesture of fealty and acceptance .
Public Messaging: Unity Restored
Governor Sanwo‑Olu described Tinubu as “my father, my leader,” dismissing rumours of a rift as tabloid exaggeration .
A GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, echoed this sentiment: “The father has drawn his son closer… we are now one in Lagos State.”.
Coverage from the media affirmed the reconciliation, noting a shared commitment to Tinubu’s leadership and to ensure the integrity of the next local elections .
Historical Power Dynamics and Political Stakes
Governor Sanwo‑Olu, first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 with 66 % of the vote, has enjoyed Tinubu’s patronage since his political debut .
Yet, friction emerged amid disputes over internal state politics—particularly attempts to reduce the Speaker’s influence and alleged favoritism in appointments .
Rumours also swirled, unverified, that campaign resources may have benefited opposition parties, prompting intelligence concerns . These were denied by both the EFCC and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Comparative Analysis
Infrastructure and Institutional Continuity: Despite the political tension, Lagos maintains policy momentum—new Blue Line rail coaches were unveiled days before the reconciliation, and the federal government continues its intervention on transit and subsidy policy .
Crisis Management: Historically, governor‑president tensions have flared in Nigerian federal systems—such as the 2018 rift between then‑Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and national party leadership, culminating in his loss of the APC ticket. In contrast, Tinubu and Sanwo‑Olu appear to have avoided a similar escalation through timely mediation.
Electoral Significance: With the next Lagos State local government elections scheduled for 12 July 2025, an unresolved split within the APC could have threatened grassroots mobilisation. The GAC’s intervention arguably forestalled such a risk, reinforcing internal cohesion.
Implications and Forward View
1. Presided Cohesion: The reconciliation reinforces party discipline and ensures Lagos remains a key APC stronghold.
2. Strategic Timing: Mending fences ahead of local elections helps to prevent internal sabre‑rattling that could weaken APC’s machinery.
3. Infrastructure-Political Nexus: The coastal highway project, despite controversy over costs (~N18bn compensation paid for phase 1), remains a public symbol of continued federal‑state cooperation .
4. Future Outlook: While tensions have been publicly subsumed, underlying power dynamics—control of appointments, party loyalty, and assembly influence—could resurface.
Conclusion
The GAC’s decisive intercession in early June 2025 appears to have successfully diffused a highly public political confrontation within the APC’s Lagos fold. President Tinubu’s gesture of forgiveness, and Governor Sanwo‑Olu’s public expressions of loyalty, demonstrate a carefully choreographed peace. Yet observers should watch developments in the State House of Assembly, upcoming local council elections, and internal party appointments closely—these arenas may well determine whether this reconciliation is deeper than just political theatre.
May 31, 2025.
Tinubu snubs Sanwo‑Olu during Lagos–Calabar highway launch.
June 8, 2025.
GAC delegation visits Tinubu; public apologies issued.
June 9, 2025.
Governor & Council publicly celebrate restored unity | | July 12, 2025 | Lagos local government elections key to APC cohesion |
Key Statistics & Data
Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway: 700 km planned; Phase 1 spans 30 km, completed and commissioned at cost compensations totaling N18 billion .
2023 Gubernatorial Vote: Sanwo‑Olu secured ~762,000 votes (65.95%), defeating runner-up Gbadebo Rhodes‑Vivour (Labour, ~312,000 votes) .
By presenting this comprehensive account, Headlinenews.news provides readers with not just the drama but the political architecture—and what may lie ahead in Nigeria’s leading state.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
