When is the time to ceasefire between Sanwo-Olu and Lagos Assembly by Taiwo olapade
The drama that is currently playing out between the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the State House of Assembly started on Friday August 25th when almost half of the cabinet Nominees sent to the House for screening and approval was rejected by the Assembly.
Governor Sanwo-Olu had sent a 39 cabinet Nominees list to the House of Assembly on July 31st for screening and confirmation.
First to note is that this development is unprecedented in the history of the Centre of Excellence which for long has become a benchmark for other states in the country and neighbouring African countries.
Sadly, in the days of strong opposition in Lagos, the ruling APC would have been bombarded with barrage of attacks and some insult. Imagine, if it was the other way round.
The first public reaction to the alleged lopsidedness in the nominees list was from the Muslim Community under the guise of the Joint Muslims Forum that described it as an affront and betrayal of trust to them.
However, the political circle were also not happy with the development but could not come out boldly based on the spirit of comradeship.
The Eti Osa indigenes that got the highest Nominees of 12 also cried out alleging that those on the list were alien to them.
Top party chieftains from Ikorodu, Alimosho and Mushin also expressed dismay and asked the Governor to do the needful based on their contributions to his election victory.
With all these reactions from various interests on the same issue, may be it should have been enough to receive the Governor’s attention, adjustments done where necessary before it became a market square affair. Who do you blame?
However, the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Civil society group known as the Concerned Lagosians believed the Governor did nothing wrong with the list.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa at plenary on Monday August 28th reacted to the report from the Governor accusing the House of refusal to communicate on the Nominees cleared during the screening and confirmed. Just like the case with the list of 48 cabinet nominees sent by the President to the Senate, 45 among those cleared was sent in a correspondence to the President already inaugurated and settling down for the task ahead.
Under the law, the House of Assembly has within 21 days after confirmation or rejection of the nominees to report back for the Governor to take the next line of action.
The question many are asking is what has been the lessons and benefits from the past Executive-Legislative parley held under the current administration to both arms of government.
Or should President Bola Tinubu abandon the enormous task before him at the Presidential Villa to return to Lagos to resolve the seeming faceoff or who else in the echelon of APC leaders in Lagos and beyond that could call both parties to order in the larger interest of the people of the state. Time is of essence.
