IBRAHIM QUADRI
In a bid to douse political tension, members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State met the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa on Wednesday in a closed-door meeting.
The GAC is the highest decision-making body for the party in Lagos.
The rejection of 17 commissioner-nominees by the House of Assembly had created some tensions within the political space in the State.
The GAC members present at the meeting were former Deputy Gov, Adejoke Adefulire, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, and Dr Yomi Finnih, whose daughter was cleared by the House and former Special Adviser to the Governor on health.
Others at the meeting were a former lawmaker, Ganiyu Solomon, APC Lagos Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, and other party stalwarts.
The meeting was held at the Lagos House, Marina.
Sources present at the meeting disclosed that Obasa and Sanwo-Olu were mandated to speak on their stance on the 17 commissioner-nominees that were rejected by the House.
The source added that the Speaker disclosed that the grouse of the House was how many of the nominees in Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet treated party leaders and engaged in actions that were not in consonant with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Aside from that, these commissioners and Special Advisers during the first term were unable to deliver their communities to the party during the election affecting their chances to win with a wide margin.
However, the Governor on his side stressed that many of the nominees that were dropped by the House were the technocrats expected to assist him in delivering some of his major policies and programmes during the second term and that formed his decision to pick them.
The GAC, members, after the meeting, could not agree on their stance and were expected to meet again to address concerns raised by both individuals.
Of the 39 nominees screened, only 22 scaled the hurdle while the others, mainly returning former commissioners, were rejected.
The recent development caused an uproar, with many insinuating that the Governor and the Speaker are at loggerheads.
Obasa had queried the qualification of some persons nominated by Sanwo-Olu for appointment as commissioners.
He said two of the nominees were rejected and the rejection was not based on their qualifications, experience, or exposure.
In July, Sanwo-Olu transmitted a list containing 39 nominees to the legislative arm for screening for appointment as commissioners.
