Lagos;Fashola faces impeachment threat vs Tinubu.

Imagine this.
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 protégé, 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://www.independentngonline.com/D...e.aspx?id=4719

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