The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing such claims as unfounded.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
He said suggestions of a strained relationship between the two leaders are based on speculation.
“How will a father say there is no future in his home? The President is a father to Mr Sanwo-Olu. Apart from that, most of things that you hear are mere speculations and imaginary things that people imagine,” he said.
Omotoso added that there has been no indication from the president suggesting dissatisfaction with the Lagos governor.
“The President has not told anybody that he is not pleased with Mr Sanwo-Olu. If he is not pleased with Mr Sanwo-Olu, he will not be coming to say that Mr Sanwo-Olu should host him for him to be seeing all of the things that he conceived in those days,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that as Commander-in-Chief, Tinubu is free to visit any state, but argued that such visits also reflect cordial relations with state governments.
According to him, “no President would visit a state if he is not happy with the state governor.”
On succession politics in Lagos, as Sanwo-Olu approaches the end of his second term in 2027, Omotoso said discussions on a successor have not begun.
“That is not even being discussed as far as I am concerned. Of course, social media rumours, speculations all over the place. The question of succession would be discussed,” he said.
Omotoso also addressed criticism surrounding the cost of the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge project, reportedly valued at about N279 billion, defending the expenditure as justified.
“Have you seen the bridge? It is not anywhere, not everywhere in Nigeria that you can find this kind of bridge that has 5.04 kilometres with roads, about 2.80 part of it is bridged,” he said.
He added, “For you to have all of these facilities in one place, it must cost a fortune.”
