Fashola Risks Impeachment, as he digs into Bola Tinubu`s N2.1bn Monthly Commission

It is no longer news that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has denied several times the report of a feud between him and his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu and alleged impeachment threat by the State House of Assembly under the leadership of Adeyemi Ikuforiji, but the sheer realities are vigorously playing out by the day which obviously show that the centre could no longer hold, but the smart Governor and his predecessor has often blamed it all on the works of the fifth columnist.


Huhuonline.com understands that the cause of the sharp disagreement between the political God-son and God-father was not unconnected with N2.1 billion naira commission that Alpha Beta receives on a monthly basis; Fashola huhuonline.com learnt is unhappy and has complained about the N2.1billion commission accrued to the former Governor (Bola Tinubu) through his company, Alpha Beta, a Tax consultancy firm which collects tax on behalf of the state government. One now understands why the clamour for compliance over tax payment in Lagos now becomes a big issue. The State Government spends billions of naira in putting jingles, TV commercial, postal, handbills, billboards, adverts and advertorials in all the available mass media using all the major languages in the country to conveying the message to the public. The State even went as far as running TV commercial on the CNN, just to drive home the message of prompt and regular tax payments in the state all in the interest of Bola Tinubu.

Other reasons purportedly cooked up on Fashola is not just disloyal to Tinubu, but the party at large (AC), giving that he has been involved in several anti-party activities in the state and also revealing all the State classified information and the party's to the press and the opposition, particularly the online media (huhuonline.com). The Tinubu loyalist also claim that the Governor and his agents have been giving out some details of secret affairs of some of the serving Commissioners and other principal officers in his cabinet, who are in advisory capacities, believed to be loyal to Tinubu, with the attempt to malign their image, expose them of their atrocities and even to frustrate them out of the system. They also frivolously alleged financial indiscretion, and administrative incapability on the part of the Governor.

Huhuonline.com reliably has it that Tinubu was not favourably disposed to the Fashola's re-election in 2011 poll because of alleged “growing wings.” He was said to be rooting for the candidacy of the incumbent Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, in 2011. Our findings have it that Banire and Fashola often engage self in some verbal attacks in full public glare and that Banire has equally make it a usual habit to always come late to their weekly executive sessions. Not just Banire also the controversial Tokunbo Afikuyomi equally treat the Governor with disdain with the belief that he is a traitor to his God father Senator Bola Tinubu. Huhuonline.com can conveniently say that Tinubu's preference has polarized AC in Lagos State, especially the State House of Assembly and the entire kitchen cabinet in the state.

Just recently, a meeting was held and well attended by some high profiled power brokers of Action Congress, in the outcome of the meeting; State House of Assembly denied reports alleging that it's plotting to impeach the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola. Reacting to this, Fashola who has often maintained a diplomatic stance on this issue, said the meeting they had was primarily centred on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dismissing the report of impeachment threat. According to him, the meeting includes Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, elder statesman, Alhaji Femi Okunu, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN) and Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire among others. The Governor explained that the deliberations between Tinubu and other participants were based on the ongoing Constitution Review Committee, for which Lagos State had been billed to host the South-West zone. He said: "We just finished a meeting on Constitution Review. Lagos will be hosting the South-West zone. It is imperative for us to put things together before the committee arrives Lagos. You will recall that Tinubu, in his eight years as governor, had championed the course for Constitution Review.

"There is no rift between Tinubu and I. There are certain things that must be respected and should be discussed in politics. The relationship between Tinubu and I goes beyond being a governor and I will do all I can to sustain it. Some people are dreaming and if they remain in their dreams the development of Lagos will go on and leave them behind. There is no reason for us to fight. Speaking on the alleged impeachment threat, Fashola said: "Tinubu is my leader and the leader of my party, the Action Congress. The state remains solidly united and I will urge all to stop peddling rumours." Meanwhile, Tinubu was all anger, when he walked out from the parley held at Lagos House, Marina, but Gov. Fashola denied any rift when asked to comment on the parley.

Just like the God-son too, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, also debunked insinuations of a cold war between him and Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He said the tie between them is "unbreakable and unshakable". Tinubu described the insinuation as "pepper soup and beer parlour talk". His words: "Tell Lagosians that this unity is with a common vision, a common transition, a common goal , belief and a strict focus for the good of the people of Lagos State and Nigeria." You've seen me here today; is there any sign of discord? Once in a while, I visit to really talk or review. I don't like coming often to disturb him or distract him. But whatever stories you've heard about us having issues are lies; it's a fabrication coming from the PDP and enemies of progress." He said Fashola is doing a marvelous job. Tinubu went on: "You can see the transformation, radical development of Lagos State, and he is very effective and focused.

"We have a division of responsibility here. I am a politician and you have a serious, focused governor who a technocrat is doing his job. There is no doubt there would be friction, but we have developed that relationship over the years in the cabinet. We didn't establish a cabinet of robots; no master-servant relationship. Rather, we have been a progressive government. I tell you the unity, solidarity and sense of brotherhood would be a threat to our party's opponents, what they cannot achieve through the front door they would achieve through the back door." To Tinubu, "What the detractors are enviable of is a demonstration of how a great model of political relationship and governance should be."

For the followers of Lagos politics it would be recalled that late Engineer Funsho Williams won Lagos Gubernatorial Primary under the platform Alliance for Democracy in 1998/1999 but it was resolved by some party elders that since Tinubu has been in exile for many years as a consequence of Abacha's threat to his life, he should be allowed to run as the party flag bearer as 'compensation' to the troubles he went through during those locust years of Abacha rule. And also Funsho Williams who served under the Military (Col. Buba Marwa) as Commissioner for Works was asked to wait for 4 years; at the expiration of Tinubu's tenure of 4 years term, out of greediness and power-drunk syndrome, Tinubu refused to allow Funsho to contest. Funsho however left AD angrily and contested against Tinubu in PDP, but he eventually lost to AD. In preparation for 2007 guber election again, Funsho who has got a lot of sympathy from Lagosians rolled out drums for support again, and the momentum he gathered showed that he would defeat the Tinubu's party (from Alliance for Democracy, AD to Action Congress, AC) some weeks to PDP primaries Funsho Williams was murdered in cold blood and the killers are yet to be apprehended . This perpetually made his dream of becoming Governor of Lagos State a mirage.

This development however, doused tension for AC in Lagos and more so, most of the PDP big wigs then decamped to AC with their hundreds of thousands of supporters, some of them are Enoch Ajibosho, Commissioner for Agriculture, Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, SSG, Prince Adeniji Adele Commissioner for Youth and Sports etc. They all left PDP as a result of the candidacy of Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, whose emergence as party flag bearer did not go down well with them. Also Tinubu who has wield to himself power of 'God-fatherism' handpicked very undemocratically the serving Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was his Chief of Staff as the flag bearer, this also caused a major crack in Action Congress leaving all the 11 aspirants who had been parading themselves initially for the position to leave AC over the alleged imposition of Fashola. Prominent among the aggrieved aspirants then was Jimi Abaje and the then Deputy Governor to Tinubu, Mr. Femi Pedro. Femi eventually got a ticket under Labour Party and Jimi also in DPA. In all of this Lagosians will have to keep their fingers crossed till 2011 and see what the event will unfold in the fiasco between God-Father and God-Son, as well as other political parties and candidates who are desperately ambitious for the same seat in the same year, indeed time will definitely tell.

2.1bn naira ?

hmm.. After patiently taking time to understand the fleud between Ambode and Tinubu... I came to the realization that Tinubu is trying to avoid something.

Have you ever wondered why Ambode privatized a lot of Government owned businesses(funding them with government money after privatizing)?

I believe Ambode also wants to be a godfather in Lagos.
I believe he might have partnered with those private companies so as to get his own share after revenues made.

Doing all these will grow powers for him in Lagos thereby creating another godfather.

TINUBU IS AWARE OF THIS AND WANT TO STOP HIM!

AMBODE WANTS TO BITE THE HAND THAT FED HIM.

boy16:


hmm.. After patiently taking time to understand the fleud between Ambode and Tinubu... I came to the realization that Tinubu is trying to avoid something.

Have you ever wondered why Ambode privatized a lot of Government owned businesses(funding them with government money after privatizing)?

I believe Ambode also wants to be a godfather in Lagos.
I believe he might have partnered with those private companies so as to get his own share after revenues made.

Doing all these will grow powers for him in Lagos thereby creating another godfather.

TINUBU IS AWARE OF THIS AND WANT TO STOP HIM!

AMBODE WANTS TO BITE THE HAND THAT FED HIM.

And so? If Fashola was so stupid not to realize that Tinubu is who he is today by virtue of being governor of Lagos for 8years, Ambode is not stupid to be another puppet.

Tinubu Fights Fashola Over 2011

Lagos lawmakers have risen quickly to quash the talk about the impeachment of Babatunde Fashola, the popular Governor who has transformed the city and the suburbs in just two years in the saddle, and is applauded by residents, as well as by fellow Governors and federal officials.
Lagosians became more alarmed on Monday when the story intensified of the improbable sack of Fashola, their best Governor since Lateef Jakande, who was at the helm from 1979 unt il the military putsch on December 31, 1983.
Jakande built new schools and housing estates, and introduced free education and healthcare, in line with the vision of Obafemi Awolowo, who brought free education to the Western Region as Premier in 1955.
Fashola has since upgraded social facilities and added new ones, among them a highly popular transport system, known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and an unprecedented beautification of the landscape.
Even a Mayor in Ghana recently visited Lagos with his officials to study and replicate Fashola's successful waste management scheme, which processes rubbish into manure for sale to farmers.
From nearer home, officials of the Kano State Government also came visiting, taking home the development models of Lagos, the mega city.
Well, Lagos Assembly Majority Leader, Taiwo Kolawole, said on Tuesday that the rumour of impeachment is baseless, because "there is nothing like that, and I can assure you that if such a thing should take place, hold me responsible.
"We don't need to comment on a report that is based on falsehood. So you don't expect us to promote something that is not true. I don't know where the obnoxious story came from."
In the main, the fracas is between former Governor Bola Tinubu and his protg, Fashola, who was his Chief of Staff, and whom he hand- picked to succeed him in Lagos House.
But the relationship between the two has deteriorated in recent times as a result of what a source described as the "overbearing attitude of Tinubu."
Daily Independence reliably gathered that things got so bad that plans have reportedly been concluded by the Action Congress (AC) in Lagos, headed by Tinubu, to field another candidate for the 2011 Governorship election.
Reports had suggested that some state AC leaders endorsed the plot to impeach Fashola for refusing to dance to the tune of Tinubu.
It was said that the lawmakers had collected about 32 signatures to serve Fashola with an impeachment notice over alleged financial misappropriation.
But Information, Security and Strategy Committee Chairman, Ipoola Omisore, insisted that, "There is no plan to impeach him. We have not discussed anything concerning impeachment. Some people are just speculating what is not."
When asked if he was consulted on the purchase of the two surveillance helicopters launched on Monday, Omisore riposted: "I am not complaining. The Security Trust Fund is not a government institution; it is not an agency under the purview of the state government.
"It is an agency initiated by the government and funded by outsiders. It is not an agency of the government, so I cannot ask them to open their books."
However, a source said the lawmakers are not happy that Fashola failed to carry them along in the purchase of the helicopters.
Nonetheless, Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Olorunnimbe Mamora, warned the legislators to desist from taking any action that will make them lose the support of voters.
Mamora, former Lagos Assembly Speaker, dismissed the rumour of the impeachment plan.
He said Fashola has impacted greatly on the lives of Lagosians for the lawmakers to think that it is possible for them to get rid of him without opposition from the people.
"Even though I see the story as a mere speculation, I want to state that the Lagos lawmakers should stop beating the drum of war because we don't know who will be the first man to fall. Speculations about the lawmakers trying to remove (Fashola) is unnecessary distraction," Mamora cautioned.
"It is a natural thing for differences to exist in any society or organisation. It is only ideal for such differences to be settled in line with the law and the Constitution.
"(Fashola) has been doing his best to improve the standard of living of the people of the state. In fact, he has been a reference point. So, there is no reason whatsoever for anybody to be planning such a move to remove the governor."
To douse the tension, on Tuesday night Tinubu and Fashola rode in the same car to a meeting at the State House, Marina, which deliberated on the state's position on the Constitution review.
Also present were Mamora; former Works Minister, Femi Okunnu; Olorunfunmi Bashorun; and Femi Gbajabiamila.
Tinubu, uncharacteristically, left without responding to greetings from well wishers who loitered around.
However, another meeting of Yoruba leaders was held at the instance of some interest groups to resolve the rumpus.
They discussed the implications of the dispute on South West politics prior to the 2011 elections, and resolved to convene an enlarged meeting of AC leaders in Lagos this week, which will involve Alani Akinrinade, and AC National Chairman, Bisi Akande.
The issues discussed at the meeting on Tuesday centered on the need to prevail on Tinubu to remove his stranglehold on the Lagos AC, so as to allow all stakeholders have their say in the running of the party, particularly in choosing its Governorship candidate for 2011.
Fashola himself said: "The report is false. It is all rumour mongering. People are looking for a divide where there is none. There is no reason for us to fight. (Tinubu) is the leader of my party that I love.

"The reason for him coming to my house on the Marina, and the reason for a four-hour closed door meeting was to strategise for the Constitution review, as Lagos is scheduled to host the South West meeting.
"Tinubu's experience as Governor is worth sharing. Nothing will come between me and him."
http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/threads/tinubu-fights-fashola-naija-nawah.39259/

Alpha beta will be Tinubu's undoing when Buhari finally dump his ass.

Aboki.s know ther game. It is use and dump. After 2019 Tinubu will regret ever supporting Buhari. You can take that to the bank!