How Fashola survived impeachment plot

It has emerged that members of the Lagos State House of Assembly actually collated signatures to sack Governor Babatunde Fashola after seven impeachable offences were allegedly established against him days after he and the Action Congress (AC) denied any infighting in the party.

A source at the Alausa seat of power in the state said the signature collation followed months of complaints that Fashola was going it alone without carrying along the Assembly and the party chieftains, who are said to be upset at the man for not oiling the AC machinery as expected of a loyal party man.

The source said the Assemblymen had complained to former Governor, Bola Tinubu, that Fashola was not carrying them along, and were told to exercise restraints, as their grievances would be addressed.

Saturday Independent was further informed that “Tinubu also told them of his frustration with the man on many fronts. However, he promised to talk to him. I can confirm to you that the former Governor once came to the Round House and he almost wept. He asked the man in charge what his offences were to deserve some treatments being meted to him.

“At a time, it became clear that the man (Fashola) would not be moved and the other camp had to go back to Tinubu. It is believed that the man told them to look into the books and see what they can do. He reportedly told them that no governor can be so careful as not to commit any impeachable offence. Eventually, they got at least seven impeachable offences. Add that to complaints that Fashola was not implementing the party’s manifesto and the problem becomes compounded.

“Funny enough, one of them was said to have leaked the compilation of list of offences and the signature strength to Fashola, who reportedly became jittery and came to the realisation that he had gone too far. He settled with the Assembly immediately, and has agreed to listen to them to avoid further trouble.”

The source refused to divulge any of the impeachable offences, but said the Governor’s adversaries had planned to rally public opinion behind them by citing his alleged refusal to listen to the party on key policy issues, particularly those the masses say impose hardship rather than comfort on them.

Alausa continues to deny that any rift ever existed between Fashola and his predecessor. A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, last week said “Tinubu has never mounted any pressure on the Governor and government and any such report is mischievous, wicked and malicious. It is also not true that Governor Fashola had twice nearly resigned following illicit demands and indecent pressure and harassment on him.”

This paper was, however, reliably informed that the conflict between both men may have polarised the party.

Some party chieftains are not happy with Fashola “because they believe he hardly respects them. In fact, top party men, including a deputy chairman, are wondering how Fashola will be giving them a month’s appointment just because they want to see him. They don’t find it funny. One of them even complained of the Governor delaying him for one hour, and at the end of the day he didn’t see him. This is considered unacceptable,” a source volunteered.

Asked what the thinking is ahead of the 2011 poll, the source said nothing is certain yet, but that the appearance at the AC Convention last weekend of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) Governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, may imply he plans to return to his former party.

“And if that is the case, I can tell you Agbaje enjoys the support of large number of AC members. They were not comfortable with his leaving the party before. And don’t forget, Agbaje was a candidate to beat. Look at his campaigns and the large followings he commanded within a short period. Lagosians will accept him if he replaces Fashola as AC candidate in 2011,” the source concluded.