Babajide Sanwoolu knows not to swap horses midstream. In his dealings with his benefactor and political godfather, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he is true as the compass needle to the pole or the dial to the sun.
The executive governor of Lagos State is guided by an understanding that total loyalty is possible only when fidelity is emptied of all dubious intent, from which changes of mind might naturally arise. Little wonder he remains devoted to Tinubu through thick and thin.
Even while some of the latter’s hitherto closest and strongest godsons and associates betrayed him, Sanwoolu remains unapologetically devoted to the benefactor who plucked him from obscurity and planted him in political limelight.
Unlike several counterparts and political godsons of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader and two-time governor of Lagos, Sanwoolu would not yield to the delirium of power nor would he be goaded by its dangerous tang, to betray the trust of his benefactor Jagaban Borgu.
Whatever the circumstances, Governor Sanwoolu would neither seek nor pursue enlightened self-interests lest he runs foul of the bond between him and his benefactor.
Despite tasting the honeyed tang of political office, Sanwoolu shuns addiction to its frills even as he scorns the intoxicating thrills of his elevated seat. Thus contrary to widespread speculations, he isn’t plotting to betray his benefactor or contend the latter’s will in respect of the succession battle for Lagos’ gubernatorial seat, come 2023.
Sanwoolu is simply focused on gifting Lagos with good governance, according to the exquisite masterplan passed down to him by his predecessors in the Lagos House including Tinubu, ex-governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode.
He would not be goaded to contend the will of Tinubu, who recently declared that the Lagos gubernatorial seat was open for contest in 2023. While many speculate that Sanwoolu, like his predecessor, Akinwumi Ambode, would cast his hat in the ring and contest for a second term, against the wishes of Tinubu, the unassuming governor has been emphatic about his quest to simply commit himself and his time to according the people of Lagos excellent governance.
It may be said that Governor Sanwoolu is finally morphing into the mould of the journalism that describes him: as a fast learner, loyal godson and astute politician.
Rather than obsess about a second term ambition, Sanwoolu commits with renewed vigour, every day, to the responsibilities for which he was elected as the executive governor of Lagos, for the benefit of the citizenry whose lives he was meant to enrich by humane and good governance.
Going by his recent interview with ThisDay Newspaper, the Lagos governor dismissed all speculations of a likely showdown between him and his godfather en route the 2023 Lagos governorship elections.
It would be recalled that at his first brush with real power as the Lagos State Governor-elect, he walked into the State House on tiptoe, visibly startled and overwhelmed by the burden of his new office and the magnitude of the task before him.
He was immensely full of gratitude and deferred to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the man by whose intervention and designs he emerged as Lagos’ number one citizen.
And to date, Sanwoolu functions in allegiance: playing the dutiful and indebted godson, earnestly seeking the grace of his affluent godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Going by his interview with ThisDay, Sanwoolu has further established his allegiance to his godfather Tinubu, and undying devotion to bettering the lives of the people of Lagos.
But unlike his predecessors, he wouldn’t fall on the double-edged sword of hubris. He would not wear his vanity upon his sleeves and take things for granted.
Governor Sanwoolu would always tell you that he remains indebted to the people of Lagos and Asiwaju Tinubu, the two-time governor of Lagos and APC National Leader, who contributed in no small measure to his ascension of Lagos’ most coveted political seat.
