The absence of former governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State at the commissioning of major projects by incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday has continued to generate concerns among party stalwarts and political watchers.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday joined Mr Ambode to commission the projects in Lagos. They included the reconstructed Lagos International Airport, Oshodi Transport Interchange, 820 mass transit buses, ultramodern 170-bed Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist Hospital, in Lagos.
The projects, analysts said, are considered strategic to the legacies of Mr Ambode as he prepares to handover power to the governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-olu, on May 29.
Although numerous government officials and party faithful atended the ceremony, the two prominent personalities in the politics of the state were conspicuously absent.
Mr Tinubu governed the state for eight years between 1999 and 2007 while Mr Fashola suceeded him and governed for another eight years between 2007 until 2015.
hile Mr Tinubu is the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a powerful force in the state chapter of the party, Mr Fashola is the minister in charge of Works, Power and Housing.
A sweet-sour relationship
Although all parties have tried to mend fences and reconcile after numerous interventions from party stalwarts, the relationship between Messrs Fashola, Tinubu and Ambode has largely been defined by suspicion and disagreements since the incumbent governor came to power. The disaffection reached its crescendo in the days leading to the last guber primaries of the party in the state.
While Mr Tinubu dumped Mr Ambode and supported Mr Sanwo-Olu as the party’s flagbearer, Mr Fashola’s choice of candidate was largely hidden even though party insiders said he was also not in support of Mr Ambode’s candidature.
