The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly extended the withdrawal of government-provided security details for prominent Lagos traditional rulers, Omogbolahan Oniru and Saheed Elegushi, indefinitely. This decision, according to sources within Peoples Gazette, is linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s displeasure over their alleged support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the controversial impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, in January.
Sources close to the matter disclosed that President Tinubu authorized the continued withholding of security for the monarchs, expressing deep anger at the handling of Lagos politics by Governor Sanwo-Olu, particularly his failure to manage dissenting lawmakers prior to Obasa�s removal on January 13th.
As a consequence of this extended security suspension, the customary police vans that were once stationed outside the palaces of Oba Oniru and Oba Elegushi have been conspicuously absent over the past weekend.
A source familiar with the Oniru palace revealed to Peoples Gazette, “Kabiyesi Oniru has already hired private security guards and shared brand-new suits with them so they can appear as SSS agents. He doesn�t know when his government security will be reinstated�President Tinubu is still very angry.”
While constitutional limitations may restrict President Tinubu’s direct actions against the incumbent Governor Sanwo-Olu, sources indicate that the President is determined to hold accountable those who facilitated the governor�s contentious actions.
“The president has authorised the police IG to continue the suspension of security officers to both Oniru and Elegushi,” a source with knowledge of the situation told The Gazette. “They brought this upon themselves for allowing themselves to be manipulated by Governor Sanwo-Olu.”
President Tinubu�s reported frustration stems from the belief that Oba Oniru and Oba Elegushi, as influential figures in Lagos, should have questioned Governor Sanwo-Olu�s claims of having presidential approval for Obasa�s removal, a key figure in the state’s political landscape. “The president said Elegushi and Oniru should have contacted his office to verify whether he supported the impeachment,” a top aide reportedly disclosed. “They should have done due diligence.”
Following Obasa’s impeachment, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was sworn in as the new speaker, only for Obasa to be reinstated on March 3rd after a directive from the President, a move that was initially met with resistance from Lagos lawmaker
While Governor Sanwo-Olu has denied any involvement in Obasa�s impeachment, allegations of his influence over lawmakers to secure the removal persist. Sources also suggest that President Tinubu reportedly snubbed the governor in the aftermath, even refusing to meet with a delegation of lawmakers seeking his intervention in Abuja.
President Tinubu�s reported distrust of Governor Sanwo-Olu is also said to have deepened after the governor’s failure to prevent the loss of Lagos to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential elections. One source within Peoples Gazette claimed, “Governor Sanwo-Olu knows how important Agege is to Asiwaju before lying to the lawmakers and bribing them to remove a man the president likes as the leader of the parliament.”
Responding to the allegations, a spokesman for Oba Oniru, Hakeem Akintoye, denied any involvement of the monarch in the political turmoil, stating, “Kabiyesi Oniru is a traditional ruler, not a politician. He has been focused on improving the welfare of his people and preserving the cultural heritage of Iru Kingdom.”
Meanwhile, Oba Elegushi has reportedly denied any issues with his security but is said to be actively working to have his government-provided protection reinstated.
When contacted for comment, a presidential spokesperson claimed to have no knowledge of the president�s alleged anger or retaliatory actions towards the traditional rulers. Similarly, spokespersons for Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Force Headquarters reportedly did not respond to requests for comment. The indefinite extension of the security withdrawal indicates the lingering political tensions following the Lagos Assembly speakership saga.
