KEY POINTS

• Sanwo Olu urged the new Agege chairman to govern inclusively and avoid divisive politics
• Abdul Ganiyu Obasa’s swearing in followed the resignation of former chairman Tunde Azeez over health issues
• Opposition parties have questioned the process, while supporters insist the transition was legitimate.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday swore in Abdul Ganiyu Obasa as chairman of Agege Local Government, cautioning him against divisive politics and urging a leadership style anchored on unity and grassroots development.

The ceremony took place at Lagos House in Ikeja, where Toyin Adejimiwa was also inaugurated as a permanent secretary in the state civil service. Addressing the new officials, Sanwo Olu said leadership at the local level carried a unique responsibility because it was closest to the daily realities of the people.

He told the new chairman that governance must be visible, compassionate and responsive, stressing that local councils were often the first point of contact between citizens and government. According to the governor, policies and conduct that deepen social or political divisions risk weakening public trust and undermining development efforts.

Obasa was former Acting Chairman

Obasa, who is the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had served as acting chairman before his confirmation and formal swearing in. His elevation followed the resignation of the former chairman, Tunde Azeez, who stepped aside citing health challenges.

Sanwo Olu said discipline and performance remained the yardsticks for leadership advancement in Lagos public service, adding that titles and family ties could not replace accountability. He also acknowledged the presence of retired permanent secretaries at the event, describing them as role models whose careers continued to inspire younger civil servants.

Azeez resigned barely months after his swearing in on July 26, 2025, after going on medical leave. His media aide, Rotimi Sulaiman, said the decision was driven purely by health concerns, arguing that stepping down to focus on treatment was the most responsible option available.

Sulaiman praised Obasa’s performance during his months as acting chairman, describing him as a young leader who had shown capacity and vision in managing council affairs during the transition period.

Opposition parties, however, have questioned the circumstances surrounding the change in leadership. They have described the process as a carefully scripted succession, pointing to earlier resistance by some party stakeholders to Obasa’s emergence as the ruling party candidate in the July 12 local government election.

Supporters of the new chairman reject those claims, insisting the transition followed due process and was necessitated by health realities rather than political scheming. They argue that Agege now has an opportunity to focus on stability and service delivery under a chairman already familiar with the workings of the council.