A cloud of political unease appears to be hovering over Lagos State following the conspicuous absence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the official flag-off of the reconstruction of the Lekki Deep Seaport Access Road by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday.
The high-profile event, which took place in the Epe-Ijebu-Ode axis of Lagos, saw top dignitaries in attendance, including the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who represented the state, as well as governors, ministers, and federal lawmakers. However, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s absence did not go unnoticed.
President Tinubu, who personally performed the flag-off ceremony, made several remarks directed at Deputy Governor Hamzat, with no mention or acknowledgement of Governor Sanwo-Olu. This development has further fueled speculation about a possible rift between the Lagos State Governor and the President, who is widely regarded as his political mentor.
The project, a major infrastructural boost for Lagos and the South-West, is aimed at improving access to the Lekki Deep Seaport a strategic economic asset expected to transform Nigeria’s maritime and logistics landscape.
Political analysts and observers have begun to raise questions about the governor’s absence from such a critical state-focused event led by the nation’s number one citizen. Some reports suggest underlying tensions between the two leaders, possibly linked to recent political events within Lagos, including the controversial reinstatement of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa after his earlier impeachment a move allegedly influenced by the presidency.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Government explaining Governor Sanwo-Olu’s absence.
With the Lekki corridor emerging as a key economic hub and the seaport expected to play a pivotal role in national development, the governor’s no-show at a project of this magnitude is being interpreted by many as more than just a scheduling conflict it may signal deeper cracks within the Lagos political structure.
More details are expected as developments unfold.
The cable