Babajide Sanwo-Olu Explained

Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Order:15th
Office:Governor of Lagos State
Term Start:29 May 2019
Deputy:Obafemi Hamzat
Predecessor:Akinwunmi Ambode
Birth Name:Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu[1]
Birth Date:25 June 1965[2] [3] [4]
Birth Place:Lagos, Nigeria
Spouse:Ibijoke Carrena
Party:All Progressives Congress
Children:2
Alma Mater:
Website:

    Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu[1] (born 25 June 1965)[2] [3] [4] is a Nigerian politician who has served as the governor of Lagos State since 2019.[5]

    Sanwo-Olu became governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress after winning the APC gubernatorial primaries against then-incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who had fallen out of favor with his alleged political sponsor.[6] [7] He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

    Before his gubernatorial ambition, he was the managing director and CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).[8] [9] [10]

    Education

    Sanwo-Olu briefly attended Government Demonstration School, Gbaja Surulere before moving to Ijebu-Ife Grammar School, Ogun State to complete his secondary education.[11] He has a BSc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos.[12] He is an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the London Business School and the Lagos Business School.[13]

    He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).[14]

    Career

    Banking

    Sanwo-Olu was the treasurer at the former Lead Merchant Bank from 1994 to 1997, after which he moved to the United Bank for Africa as the head of foreign money market. He then proceeded to First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank) as a deputy general manager and divisional head. He later became the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited.[15]

    Public service

    Sanwo-Olu began his political career in 2003, when he was appointed a Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He was later made the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget until 2007, when he was appointed as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by then Governor, Bola Tinubu. After the General Elections of 2007, Sanwo-Olu was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Fashola. Sanwo-Olu was made Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016.[8] [16]

    Some of his notable public sector achievements include the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatization projects. He set up and was the Pioneer Board Chairman of Lagos Security Trust Fund. The LAGBUS System and the Control & Command Centre in Alausa Ikeja were subsequently established under his directives.

    Politics

    On 16 September 2018, Sanwo-Olu formally declared his intention to run for the office of the governor of Lagos State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) making him a major contender to the incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode.[17]

    His declaration attracted endorsements from major stakeholders in Lagos State politics including the famous in-house political group Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress, the Governor's Advisory Council [18] and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.[19] This would lead to the withdrawal of Obafemi Hamzat,[20] who had also declared interest to contest the position.[21]

    Sanwo-Olu won the Lagos gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress on 2 October 2018. At the APC flag-off campaign rally held on 8 January 2019, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and several other political parties pledged their support for the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu.[22] In a landslide victory over his main opponent Jimi Agbaje, Sanwo-Olu was elected to the Office of Governor of Lagos State at the 2019 Lagos State gubernatorial election held on 9 March 2019.[23] He was sworn in as the 15th Governor of Lagos State at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos Island on Wednesday 29 May 2019.[24]

    He has been working on different development activities, one of which is massive road constructions across major areas across the state. In 2020, Sanwo-olu asked that the statue of Fela Kuti that was erected by Akinwunmi Ambode be removed from Allen Avenue in Ikeja, to ease the situation of traffic in that area. [25] He commissioned the Oshodi - Abule-Egba BRT Lane amongst other projects in 2020.[26]

    He was reelected governor under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election held on 18 March[27] defeating Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) who came first runner up and AbdulAzeez Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came second runner up in a deeply violent and hate speech[28] charged election which fueled ethnic tensions.[29] [30]

    The re-election of Sanwo-Olu was contested by both Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) and Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They alleged that Sanwo-olu's deputy, Obafemi Hamzat was unqualified to contest the election because, according to them, he had renounced his Nigerian citizenship, and that Sanwo-olu presented a forged high school certificate.[31]

    On Monday, 25 September 2023, the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal threw out both Jandor's and Rhodes-Vivour's petitions and affirmed Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as duly elected governor and deputy governor of Lagos state.[32]

    Awards

    Sanwo-Olu has obtained a variety of awards in his career, some of which include:

    Personal life

    Sanwo-Olu is married to Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.[34]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: PROFILE: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, Nigeria [2019 — ]]. . 24 January 2021 . 10 March 2023.
    2. Web site: Buhari salutes Sanwo-Olu at 57. . 25 June 2022 . 10 March 2023.
    3. Web site: Olafusi . Ebunoluwa . He is a prime example of excellence’ — Tinubu hails Sanwo-Olu at 57. The Cable . 25 June 2022 . 10 March 2023.
    4. Web site: Akeredolu greets Sanwo-Olu at 57. . 25 June 2022 . 10 March 2023.
    5. Web site: 2022-02-11 . 2023 Presidency: Sanwo-Olu mobilises APC leaders, communities for Tinubu . 2022-03-05 . Vanguard News . en-US.
    6. News: Adekunle . Breaking: Ebri's panel declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos APC primary . 3 October 2018 . Vanguard . 3 October 2018.
    7. News: Opejobi . Seun . Tinubu 'anointed' candidate, Sanwo-Olu defeats Ambode in Alausa . 3 October 2018 . Daily Post . 2 October 2018.
    8. News: Nwafor . Polycarp . Babajide Sanwo-Olu: the cool, calm, dynamic technocrat who wants to unseat Ambode . 2 October 2018 . Vanguard . 12 September 2018.
    9. News: Olasupo . Abisola . Ambode's deputy declares support for Sanwo-Olu . 3 October 2018 . Guardian . 2 October 2018.
    10. Web site: 2023-03-06 . Igbo group endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term . 2023-03-07 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
    11. Web site: Staff . Daily Post . 2019-03-01 . Infographic on Sanwo-Olu's biography . 2023-03-02 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.
    12. Web site: 2021-01-24 . PROFILE: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, Nigeria [2019 --- ] ]. 2022-02-28 . en-GB.
    13. News: Olafusi . Ebunoluwa . CLOSE-UP: Ex-UBA official, UNILAG graduate… meet Sanwo-Olu, Ambode's challenger . 2 October 2018 . The Cable Nigeria . 13 September 2018.
    14. News: Lawal . Nurudeen . Omotayo . Joseph . 14 facts you should know about Lagos governor-elect . 26 March 2019 . legit.ng . 11 March 2019.
    15. News: CLOSE-UP: Ex-UBA official, UNILAG graduate… meet Sanwo-Olu, Ambode’s challenger. The Cable Newspaper. 13 September 2023 .
    16. News: Egbas . Jude . 7 Things to know about the man who could become the next Governor of Lagos . 3 October 2018 . Pulse Nigeria . 13 September 2018.
    17. News: Adeniji. Gbenga . Sanwo-Olu formally declares ambition, PDP reiterates offer to Ambode . 3 October 2018 . Punch Nigeria Newspaper. 17 September 2018.
    18. News: Adeniji. Gbenga . GAC endorses Sanwo-Olu for Lagos APC gov ticket . 3 October 2018 . Punch Nigeria Newspaper. 30 September 2018.
    19. News: Adeniji. Gbenga . Lagos APC primary: 36 lawmakers back Sanwo-Olu . 3 October 2018 . Punch Nigeria Newspaper. 29 September 2018.
    20. News: Adeniji. Gbenga . Lagos APC gov primary: Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu. 3 October 2018 . Punch Nigeria Newspaper. 29 September 2018.
    21. Web site: TheCable . 2018-09-29 . Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu ahead of Lagos APC guber primary . 2024-07-06 . TheCable . en-US.
    22. News: Oyewole. Nurudeen. Gunshots at Lagos APC rally as 63 parties endorse Sanwo-Olu. https://web.archive.org/web/20210609103710/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/gunshots-at-lagos-apc-rally-as-63-parties-endorse-sanwo-olu. dead. 9 June 2021. 10 January 2019. Daily Trust Newspaper. 8 January 2019.
    23. Web site: INEC result: Kano Govnorship Elections dey INCONCLUSIVE! - BBC Pidgin.
    24. News: Oak . TV . BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu officially takes over from Ambode . 3 June 2019 . Oak TV Newstrack . 29 May 2019.
    25. Web site: Sanwo-Olu pulls down Fela's statue to ease traffic . Pulse NG . 14 January 2020.
    26. News: Sanwo-Olu commissions Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT corridor . The Nation Newspaper. 11 August 2020 .
    27. News: It’s official: Sanwo-Olu re-elected Lagos governor. Premium Times. 20 March 2023 .
    28. News: Post Election Lagos -Dousing Ethnic Tension . Guardian Nigeria. 1 April 2023.
    29. News: US observers witness violence in Lagos . Channels Newspaper. 21 March 2023.
    30. News: Sanwo-Olu reelected in Lagos . Vanguard Nigeria Newspaper. 19 March 2023 .
    31. News: Rhodes-Vivour, Jandor file petition against Sanwo-Olu, others . The Guardian Newspaper. 12 April 2023 .
    32. News: Tribunal Affirms Sanwo-Olu As Lagos State Governor . Voiceof Nigeria. 25 September 2023 .
    33. News: Governor Sanwo-Olu others Honoured at MNA Awards. 20 September 2021. Guardian Newspaper. 5 October 2021. Lagos, Nigeria.
    34. News: Opeseitan . Tunde . Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu: Celebrating a quintessential First Lady at 53 . 29 April 2020 . PM News Nigeria . 7 January 2020.