The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Abdul-Ganiyu, the son of the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, as Chairman of Agege Local Government.
Obasa’s son, who had been acting in the role for some time, was sworn in on Monday, officially taking over the mantle of leadership and the responsibility to steer the affairs of the LGA.
He assumed office following the resignation of the former Chairman, Tunde Azeez, who had been on medical leave since the swearing-in of the new council administration.
Azeez, in a letter read by the Leader of the House, Adeshina Haruna, stepped down due to persistent health challenges that had significantly affected his ability to perform his duties.
During the ceremony at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged the newly sworn-in chairman to prioritise community development and align closely with the state government’s vision.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that effective governance is anchored on placing capable and trustworthy individuals in leadership positions and treating public office as a call to service rather than a channel for privilege.
The governor stressed that governance in Lagos would always be guided by the will of the people and the imperative of delivering sound leadership and efficient public service, regardless of whether appointments are political or technocratic.
He added that the administration remains committed to ensuring that competence, integrity and service to the people remain the defining standards of public office.
Addressing the newly sworn-in chairman, Sanwo-Olu said that with immediate effect, he formally assumes office as Chairman of Agege Local Government, carrying the trust of the people and the responsibility of grassroots leadership.
The governor noted that local government is the level of governance most directly experienced by citizens, where policies intersect with everyday realities and leadership is most visible.
According to him, the chairman’s duty is to deepen community development, promote social cohesion and ensure that governance is delivered fairly, transparently and equitably to all residents of Agege.
Sanwo-Olu urged the chairman to lead inclusively, cautioning against dividing the community along political, social or factional lines, whether among supporters or those who opposed his emergence.
“And now, as chairman, you have the full mandate to bridge the divide — the divide of policies and the divide of local realities. You have the responsibility to reconcile everyone.
“If I tell you that Agege is fully reconciled, I will be lying. But you now have the responsibility, as chairman, to do that. It is not a function of age,” he said.
The governor added that the responsibilities of office must be discharged in a manner that delivers meaningful impact and meets the high standards the position demands.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, the newly sworn-in chairman said every resident of Agege would benefit equally from ongoing and planned development projects, stressing that his administration is focused on inclusive growth.
“Since the APC primary election, a lot of reconciliation has taken place. As recently as last week, members of the Justice Forum in our local government moved to the Mandate Group.
“For us, we are running a government in unison — one that brings everyone together. There is no discrimination because everyone benefits from roads, schools, healthcare and other improvements across the local government,” he said.
On reconciliation with APC members who opposed his emergence as deputy to the former chairman, Tunde Azeez, who later resigned on health grounds, the chairman said deliberate efforts had been made since the primary election to foster unity within the party and the local government.
He noted that the reconciliation process has continued steadily, describing the alignment of the Justice Forum with the Mandate Group as a significant step toward unity and cohesion.
According to him, the administration is committed to running an inclusive government that brings everyone together, regardless of political affiliation or past differences.
He stressed that there would be no discrimination in governance, noting that public infrastructure and social services such as roads, schools, healthcare and other developmental initiatives are meant for all residents.
