By Newspot Editorial
The reported widening gulf between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu—first exposed in Empowered Newswire’s recent exclusiveEmpowered Newswire’s recent exclusive—is not just a political squabble. It is a dangerous drift that could destabilize the very foundation of Lagos politics, undermine the APC’s cohesion, and send damaging signals about loyalty, power, and governance in Nigeria.
Let’s face it: President Tinubu’s anger is not without context. He is, after all, the architect of modern Lagos politics. He handpicked Sanwo-Olu in 2019 and cleared the path for his re-election in 2023. So, when allegations emerged that Sanwo-Olu may have covertly aligned with Atiku Abubakar during the last presidential elections—or at least didn’t give his all to Tinubu’s campaign—the betrayal felt personal. When the president lost Lagos to Peter Obi, it wasn’t just a blow to ego—it was a crack in the legacy he built brick by brick. Sanwo-Olu’s own landslide victory weeks later only deepened suspicions that he had played a double game.
Then there’s the troubling issue of Aisha Sulaiman-Achimugu. Her ostentatious birthday bash abroad—attended by Sanwo-Olu—set tongues wagging. Her recent declaration as wanted by the EFCC for alleged money laundering has only fueled the fire. Tinubu, a political patriarch who prizes loyalty and discipline, is said to be furious that someone so close to the governor could become the poster child for influence-peddling in Lagos. And if credible whispers suggest that this same woman served as a conduit for channeling funds to rival campaigns, the President’s reaction becomes not just understandable—it becomes inevitable.
Yet, at Newspot Nigeria, we also urge caution. Because beneath the headlines and the heat, there lies a more fundamental question: Should Nigeria’s democracy be reduced to a loyalty test, even at the cost of performance and good governance?
Governor Sanwo-Olu, by all fair metrics, has been a capable administrator. From infrastructure projects to traffic reforms and crisis management, Lagosians have not been shortchanged. His re-election was earned not just through party muscle but by delivery. Is it not possible that the accusations against him stem from political paranoia rather than proven disloyalty? Should unverified associations with a controversial figure erase years of effective public service?
We must also interrogate the cost of this rift. A Lagos divided between the Aso Rock power center and Alausa’s seat of government will not serve the interests of its 20 million residents. Nor will it serve the APC, which now faces threats from a resurgent opposition and internal discontent. The crisis with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, the alleged push for Sanwo-Olu’s resignation, and the president’s decision to shun Lagos during Eid are not just political posturing—they are symptoms of a deeper dysfunction that could fracture the Tinubu coalition beyond repair.
Newspot Nigeria believes this feud must end—now.
President Tinubu must remember that true leadership isn’t about vengeance—it’s about vision. If Sanwo-Olu has erred, let due process—not political exile—prevail. And Sanwo-Olu must realize that perception, in politics, is as powerful as truth. He must act decisively to rebuild trust, distance himself from toxic associations, and reaffirm his loyalty not just to Tinubu, but to the values that brought them both to power.
This is a critical moment—not just for two men, but for a party, a state, and a nation. One must not let ego undo what years of sacrifice built.
Newspot Nigeria stands for accountability, but also for reconciliation when it serves the public good. It is time to de-escalate the drama and return to the business of governance. Lagos, and indeed Nigeria, deserves nothing less.
