Awujale, Governor Fashola in secret talks

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state today paid a visit to the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona at his palace in Ijebu Ode.

The meeting which lasted for almost an hour was held under closed door as nobody was allowed to be part of the meeting, including the aides of the governor.

The governor arrived Ijebu Ode around 2:15pm via a helicopter which landed at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode.

Fashola, who was clad in a white agbada was later driven to the palace in a black SUV where he went in straight to the inner palace to meet with the monarch.

Journalists who were on ground to know why the governor visited the monarch were disappointed as the governor did not speak to anybody. One of his aides who was also not privy to the meeting disclosed to the waiting newsmen that the visit was just a private visit.

“It is just a private visit and nothing more, thank you for coming,” the aide said.

A palace source confided in our correspondent that the visit may have to do with the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state, which has resulted in Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state and his erstwhile political leader Chief Olusegun Osoba parting ways.

It would be recalled that the Osoba faction in the state have been threatening to pull out of the party and there are talks that the faction could move to the Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) a new political party.

The source disclosed that the Lagos governor came to see the revered monarch and solicit for his intervention in the crisis before the 2015 general elections.

According to the source, “I don’t want you to quote my name, the governor was here and you all can see him. He has come to see Baba on some issues but the most important one is about the fight between the governor and Osoba. We learnt many people have spoken with the two of them but the matter is yet to be resolved.

“Governor Fashola believes that both the governor and Osoba are sons to Baba Awujale and he wants the monarch to intervene in the interest of the people of Ogun state,” the source revealed.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi will also be at the palace tomorrow to pay a visit to the Paramount ruler of Ijebuland.