The rift between two former governors of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola gets messier with sordid revelations about the past
Lagos state, the Centre of Excellency is witnessing a tumoil of two giants.
Already the centre can no longer hold for the centre of excellence as two former governors, Ahmed Tinubu and his protege, Babatunde Fashola are at each other’s throats. No sooner had Fashola left office as Governor of Lagos state on May 29, 2015 than a pocket of groups besieged him with barrages of allegations that he fathered a set of twins outside wedlock, left Lagos state in huge debts, and awarded a N78m contract to upgrade a personal website: tundefashola.com while in office. But for Fashola, tagged as a poster boy of good governance and applauded by other governors and opposition alike, it only reaffirms the knowledge that one, after all, is not living in the city of angels.
In the just concluded general election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, while campaigning, harped on Fashola’s achievements among others for its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and state governorship candidate, Akinwumi Ambode. From road infrastructure to educational development and adequate security to green environment Fashola soon warmed his way into the hearts of many Lagosians. And this inevitably increased his political profile.
President Buhari too seems impressed by his achievements. A source who does not want his name in print told The Source that Buhari, in the beginning had pencilled Fashola down as his Chief of Staff for which the source explains is the reason why Fashola was one of those he gave the Ahmed Jordan report to work on for him, and one of those he also took to the G7 Summit in Germany.
Ordinarily, the president’s interest in the former governor should be a collective pride to the APC, but rather, it has turned sour grapes, as it is perceived to threaten the myth and influence of some cabal in the party. But things seem no longer the same today.
An unconfirmed source told this magazine that Tinubu may not have been comfortable with Fashola’s closeness to PMB and so, not in support of any such appointment. During PMB’s recent visit to the USA, Fashola was conspicuously absent.
Recent allegations by some groups, notably the BudgIT, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, and the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project, SERAP, have, according to Fashola’s loyalists, been targeted at him to discredit his high flying political profile. BudgIT accused Fashola of wrongdoing while in office, to wit: that he spent N78million on website upgrade contracted to a private company, a sum seen as outrageous. The group, in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged “questionable expenditures” by the administration of Fashola. In the petition, dated August 10, 2015 and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, the group called for the probe of the controversial sum being public money awarded to Info Access Plus Limited through the Office of the Chief of Staff to the former governor. The IT firm named by the Lagos State Procurement Office as receiving N78m, in defense, has however denied receiving the amount, insisting that it was paid N10m only. In corroborating its claim, Info Access Plus Limited said its quotation for the job was N12.5 million, and that the state eventually spent N10m.
Other allegations leveled against the Fashola administration by the group include N1.2 billion allegedly spent on the construction of pedestrian bridges along Eti-Osa – Lekki – Epe expressway “which did not specify the number of bridges”; N17 million awarded for the provision of wall signage in three magistrate courts; N3.46 billion spent on the construction of a beach resort in Ilase; and N61 million disbursed for a Range Rover SUV and two Toyota Hilux trucks as the official vehicles of Lagos Chief Judge. There was also the claim of extra-marital affair against Fashola, said to have produced a set of twins. In buttressing his claim, the whistle blower, Executive Director, CACOL, led by Debo Adeniran, also added that its investigation showed that the 1.36 kilometre Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge cost N6 billion, and not the N25 billion by Fashola’s administration.
In reaction to the odious revelation, the opposition, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, berated the reckless misappropriation of tax-payers money. Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, put it this way: “We knew all along that the emperor had no clothes. Using N78m tax payers money to build a web site is reckless misappropriation. The phony N25 billion used to build a mere kilometer long link bridge is outrageous venality. The spurious N1.5 billion allegedly spent on phantom pedestrian bridges is another con game. And there are so many of these screaming illegalities observable in the record of our poster boy of yesterday”.
But Fashola will have none of that. And in response to the crusade of CACOL calling for his prosecution, he noted that the allegations had no proof, saying:
“allegations are not resolved without evidence, neither are they resolved in press conferences”. As to the alleged twins he fathered, he said “They are wicked and false. I have no biological children other than my two children. Of course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the tragic Dana airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due process.”
No sooner had that revelation made the headlines and airwaves than another group, SERAP alleged that the state, under his watch, refused to disclose details of the US$200m World Bank education fund during his tenure. But in setting the record straight, Fashola employed the allegory of Bernard Shaw, noting that “When you wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty”. He didn’t mince words when he linked the serial attacks to insinuation that he may be given an appointment by President Buhari. “I expect that there may be more distorted allegations without evidence, for reasons that remain in the realm of speculation, but I have been informed reliably that large amounts of money are being paid to some of these agents to bear false witness”.
So who is behind the hate campaign against the Lagos poster boy?
His staunch loyalists have linked the attacks to his alleged frosty relationship with his mentor, Bola Tinubu, his predecessor in office, and National Leader of the party, a move the latter has refuted. In their summation, the genesis of Fashola’s sins began when he did not support the candidacy of Akinwumi Ambode as the state APC governorship candidate ahead of the just concluded 2015 polls. He was accused of opposing and spending huge sums of money to sell the candidacy of his former Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Sasore, against the party’s leadership preferred Ambode at the primaries to the people of Lagos. Among his sins was his alleged meeting with the 57 local government chairmen in the state, where he promised to extend their tenure and even approve third term for those interested if they supported his candidate at the primaries. At the conclusion of the governorship election, Ambode, against all odds, emerged victorious, defeating Sasore among others. That action was seen by the camp loyal to Tinubu as “treacherous” and so they waited for his exit from government to strike back. A source close to the party leadership also hinted at his website project describing it as unnecessary as the state government was already maintaining a department under the Ministry of Science and Technology that could have operated the website efficiently and at minimal cost. “But Fashola chose to spend huge public money”, the source credited. That was not all. He was also accused of manipulating the Quality Assurance Department to have his way on procurement approvals. “And to have jettisoned Lagos Television for a private owned TV station, where huge sums of public funds were allegedly spent on projects”, the source added.
To drive home their claim on alleged rift between the former governor and his political godfather, supporters of Fashola, on August 18, 2015, pointed to the absence of APC bigwigs at the launch of three books written in honour of his administration. The books titled: In Bold Prints”, “The Lagos Blowdown, and “The Great Leap” were authored by Hakeem Bello, former Special Adviser on Media to Fashola and Dapo Adeniyi. Similarly, most of the members of the former governor’s cabinet as well as his two former deputy governors, Mrs. Sarah Sosan and Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and members of the State Executive Committee of the APC were copiously absent too. Though Tinubu, who did not attend sent a representative, Prof Tunde Samuel, the absence of former governors and leaders such as National APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, Bisi Akande, Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, among other dignitaries of the party further renewed speculations that all was not well between Fashola and his former boss, Tinubu. The shunning of the book launch by the party leaders, many say, was in sharp contrast with that of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. At Amaechi’s book launch which held more than three months ago in Lagos, Tinubu, Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Governor Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Governor Samuel Lalong (Plateau), Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, Bisi Akande, former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, among other dignitaries were physically present.
Governor Ambode is also said to have an axe to grind with his predecessor. A source loyal to Fashola, who does not want his name in print informed The Source that some of the policy reversals by Governor Ambode since he assumed office is a direct attack on Fashola. On August 19, 2015 the Lagos State Government terminated the concession agreement for the redevelopment of Falomo Shopping Centre in Ikoyi, stating that “the agreement was detrimental to the interest of its residents”. The governor claimed only N50 million was paid by the concessionaire for a 50-year lease of the property belonging to the state government. One of its agencies, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), entered into the agreement in July 2013 to redevelop the shopping centre with Afriland Properties Plc, a member of Heirs Holdings Group founded by Tony Elumelu. When the contract for the redevelopment of the shopping centre was signed, Heirs Holdings and LSDPC said the new development would boast a state-of-the-art shopping mall, an office complex and luxury residential apartments. But no completion date was given for the project. The old Falomo Shopping Centre was built by LSDPC in the 1970s and included a 10-storey building, which currently serves as the headquarters of MTN Nigeria, and an adjourning uncompleted building behind the complex. However, the complex, due to poor facility management, lost most of its upscale tenants over the years, leaving behind only two original tenants – Quintessence, an art shop, and Glendora bookshop. Both shops eventually moved out when the concession agreement was signed in 2013. Ambode, two months ago, relieved the former Managing Director of the LSDPC, Biodun Oki, of his appointment and appointed Jacob Agosu as the acting CEO of the corporation.
But the management of the concessionaire, Afriland Properties Plc has denied any wrong doing, saying the award of the contract followed due process. The firm, through its Managing Director, Uzo Oshogwe, rejected the claim that the concession terms were detrimental to Lagos state and its residents and that it only made a payment of N50 million for a 50-year lease of the government-owned land. “Afriland Properties Plc and the Lagos State Development Property Corporation, LSDPC, acting on behalf of the Lagos State Government, established a Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV which is jointly owned by the parties for the specific purpose of the Falomo project. Under the terms of the agreement, the SPV- Falomo Shopping Centre Development Company Ltd – was granted a concession to, among other things, develop, build, operate and maintain the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT basis”, Oshogwe stated. “Afriland paid N50million to LSDPC as an expression of interest in the redevelopment project. The LSPDC will receive a 35 per cent interest in the SPV for its land contribution and through this significant Equity Holding, will continue to receive significant ongoing value. Afriland is obliged to fund the entirety of the development costs which is projected to exceed N30 billion without recourse to the taxpayer”.
The fresh wave of change which swept some Permanent Secretaries out of the Lagos state public service is also linked to alleged “unprofessional conduct”, incompetence and misappropriation of funds committed during the Fashola administration. The restructuring, referred to as “Tsunami”, has claimed no fewer than 12 senior civil servants. Among them are: Engr. Bamgbose Martins Paul, (Works & Infrastructure), Adekunle Ajanaku, (LTV), Arch. Taiwo Adedeji (Waterfront & Infrastructure), Dr. Desalu Aderemi (Special Duties), Pedro Lawal Alade Mohammed, (Justice), Ashamu Fadipe, (Local Govt. Service Commission), Abari Dada Lateef, (Local Govt. and Chieftaincy), Regina Obasa, (Energy & Mineral Resources), Adebayo Sodade, (Economic Planning & Budget), Dr. John Oshiyimika, (Youth & Social Development), Engr. Adeniyi Ogunbambi, (Environment), Surv. Olorunjuwon Agbenla, (Surveyor General), Engr. Ayodeji Adenekan, (Drainage Services), TPL. Joseph Adediran, (MVAA), and Folake Onabolu, (Parastatal Monitoring Office).
But Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to Ambode, has been explaining that the restructuring is in line with the governor’s drive to re-position the civil service for efficient performance and service delivery and not for any personal interest or motive.”He (governor) needs people of like-minds to consummate his agenda and vision,” Aruna said.
Another group, Lagos Indigenes Network Organisation, LINO, has also dissociated the state governor, Ambode from allegedly being behind the N78m website scandal rocking his predecessor, because the information was made available by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, an organ of the Lagos State Government. LINO’s Executive Secretary, Fouad Ade- Basorun said since Ambode’s swearing-in on May 29, the governor has occupied himself with developmental projects in the state and has no spare time to tarnish the image of his predecessor. Ade-Basorun described the report as sad, adding that those involved in the saga were mischief makers trying to cause chaos in the polity.
In the same vein, one APC chieftain, who preferred anonymity, ruled out the involvement of Tinubu or the APC on the attacks against Fashola, saying, “The groups are entitled to their opinions; and Fashola is capable of defending himself and his administration. It’s unfortunate that when anything happens, we are always looking for someone to blame. Focus should now be on Budg IT, the NGO that first blew the whistle on who hired it.”
Already, the issues have started causing cracks within the ruling party in Lagos. “There is already division in the party, those in Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, comprising elders of the party, have started holding parallel meetings,” a source told The Source. Last week, there was an emergency closed door meeting by APC leaders at the party’s secretariat to review some issues as well as the alleged involvement of Tinubu in Fashola’s travails.
The outcome of that ad-hoc meeting it is said informed Tinubu breaking the silence. In refuting the claims, the former governor on August 26, 2015 said, the allegations against him were the handiworks of mischief makers in the opposition party, PDP. “The PDP is just recently out of office at the federal level and it built a vast, unprecedented financial war chest to contest the elections. The residual of their war chest is still at work, buying media space to plant rumours in hopes of spreading discord through the APC,” the national leader of the APC said.
He said his political alliance with his successor in 2007 remain indivisible. “I want to declare clearly and categorically that these rancid attacks do not come from me, nor do I endorse them. Neither my hand nor my heart is in these mean submissions. I deplore them. In my mind, Governor Fashola and I alliance is unshakable and our journey shall always be political allies… that must not be interrupted.” Tinubu said.
Perhaps. But then, this: Some columnists in a newspaper owned by Tinubu seem to have unleashed their pens on Fashola.
Writing, recently, in an article entitled “Babatunde Fashola as a APC’s Broken Idol, a columnist with The Nation Olatunji Olalade, said: “The APC’s golden boy has lost his fabled swagger and equilibrium. What is left is a feeble attempt at valour, a necessary performance of will… Lightening struck the former governor recently as the APC’s top hierarchy and all its prominent governors stayed away from his recent book launch, thus leaving him severely shaken, and bereft of spunk.”
In fairness to Olalade, he was reacting to an article by a Fashola supporter, Olawale Olaleye, entitled “Fashola’s Indestructible Record” which dripped of anger. Check this: “Fashola’s invitation (to serve in Tinubu’s Government as Chief of Staff) was one to serve in a government that was deficient in credibility and was strictly on personal recognition with a clear brief to help…”
Not a few people also see Tinubu’s new positive stand on Fashola as a pointer to his helplessness. Noted a source: “Tinubu may have realised two things. One, his stand on Fashola cuts no ice with PMB. And two, he knows Fashola too can fight.
Though Fashola has debunked the insinuation making the rounds that he is being slated for ministerial appointment, there are however insinuation, that the attacks are targeted at tarnishing his credibility so that he does not make the Buhari list, which analysts say, is premised on the President’s open condemnation and war against corruption. “With the messy stories of alleged graft flying in the face of the former governor, it is considered that the president might have a rethink”, a politician and a ruling party chieftain said. “Buhari would want to distant himself from such. This is what the group hopes to achieve.”
Though Fashola has debunked the insinuation making the rounds that he is being slated for ministerial appointment, there are however insinuation, that the attacks are targeted at tarnishing his credibility so that he does not make the Buhari list, which analysts say, is premised on the President’s open condemnation and war against corruption. “With the messy stories of alleged graft flying in the face of the former governor, it is considered that the president might have a rethink”, a politician and a ruling party chieftain said. “Buhari would want to distant himself from such. This is what the group hopes to achieve.”
Fashola’s recent hate campaign is a déjàvu. This is not the first time, accusing fingers are pointing at Tinubu in the plot against Fashola. In the twilight of Fashola’s first term in office, speculations were that he had fallen out of favour with his godfather. He was blamed for failing to properly align the synergy between politics and governance. Those who spoke to The Source during the peak of campaigns by the True Face of Lagos alleged that the governor, rather than patronise party chieftains who worked for him during the 2007 polls, instead spent money on such hangers-on as family members and cronies. It was also alleged that Tinubu was particularly piqued that he was not receiving enough patronage from his godson and that he (the godson) had not been faithful in terms of awards of contracts to his (Tinubu) companies. This led to the muted spat and belligerence towards him by Tinubu’s foot soldiers such as Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Henry Ajomale, the state party chairman, who openly said, “Fashola has never given the party a dime in the last four years (of the first term 2007-2011)”. He continued, “Fashola is one person I regard to be very prudent in spending. It is not a question of trying to praise him. It is something we are annoyed about”.
The matter, in the coming weeks, may get messier. And this is not unlikely to be the last on the alleged can of worms of sleaze leveled against the immediate former governor who, however, seems unruffled. Analysts say, if his hint on the inherited huge debt before assuming office in 2007 is anything to go by, then the pig fight will live upto its billing — dirty..
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