The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims of a rift between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu, describing the reports as unfounded speculation.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, insisting that the relationship between the two leaders remains cordial.
Omotoso said rumours of a frosty relationship between the president and the governor were based on imagination and lacked any factual basis.
“How will a father say there is no future in his home? The President is a father to Mr Sanwo-Olu. Apart from that, most of the things that you hear are mere speculations and imaginary things that people imagine,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the president has not expressed any dissatisfaction with the Lagos governor.
“The President has not told anybody that he is not pleased with Mr Sanwo-Olu. If he is not pleased with Mr Sanwo-Olu, he will not be coming to say that Mr Sanwo-Olu should host him for him to be seeing all of the things that he conceived in those days,” Omotoso added.
Omotoso further argued that Tinubu’s visits to Lagos demonstrate that the president maintains a good relationship with the state government.
He noted that as President and Commander-in-Chief, Tinubu has the authority to visit any part of the country but would not choose to visit a state where he is unhappy with the leadership.
The commissioner also addressed questions about the political succession in Lagos State, as Sanwo-Olu’s second term will end on May 29, 2027.
Responding to speculation that the president may have endorsed a successor, Omotoso said the matter has not been formally discussed.
“That is not even being discussed as far as I am concerned. Of course, social media rumours, speculations all over the place. The question of succession would be discussed,” he said.
Omotoso also defended the cost of the Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge, reportedly valued at about ₦279 billion, built by the Sanwo-Olu administration.
According to him, the scale and complexity of the project justify its cost.
He said, “Have you seen the bridge? It is not anywhere, not everywhere in Nigeria that you can find this kind of bridge that has 5.04 kilometres with roads, about 2.80 part of it is bridged.
“You have 146 metres of adjoining roads. You have about four underpasses. For you to have all of these facilities in one place, it must cost a fortune.”
