President Bola Tinubu has dismissed ongoing rumours of a strained relationship between himself and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, affirming that all perceived issues have been resolved.
During a Sallah homage visit at his Ikoyi residence, Tinubu received Governor Sanwo-Olu alongside the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and prominent members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC). The visit, held in honour of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, was led by GAC Chairman Prince Tajudeen Olusi.
Among the notable figures present were Lagos Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Lagos APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Senators Tokunbo Abiru and Ganiyu Solomon, and party leader Cardinal James Odunmbaku.
This gathering followed weeks of speculation surrounding a possible fallout between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, intensified by a viral video from the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Phase 1 inauguration in May. In the video, President Tinubu was seen greeting several dignitaries while appearing to skip over Sanwo-Olu, fueling online chatter about a rift.
However, during the Sallah visit, members of the GAC reportedly used the opportunity to appeal to the president. Without delving into the specifics of any past misunderstanding, the group sought reconciliation on the governor’s behalf. President Tinubu responded with warmth, stating, “It’s all over now. All is forgiven,” and assured everyone present that he held no animosity.
Witnesses at the meeting noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu and some GAC members prostrated in traditional respect and apology, which Tinubu graciously accepted.
After the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke briefly to the press, describing the event as part of a long-standing tradition during festive periods. He reaffirmed Lagos State’s continued support for President Tinubu, highlighting the president’s visible impact in the state and across the country.
In another visit on the same day, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also paid courtesy to the president. Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting, the monarch praised Tinubu’s efforts to reposition Nigeria internationally and expressed support for the administration’s proposed restructuring of the Forest Guard system.
The Ooni shared feedback from a recent trip to Kazakhstan, noting increased global interest in doing business with Nigeria. He applauded the end of dual exchange rates and emphasized that improved security, particularly through the Forest Guard initiative, would strengthen investor confidence and drive economic growth.
Oba Ogunwusi commended the federal government’s push to secure forested regions across both northern and southern parts of the country, seeing it as a critical move toward peace and prosperity.
