Fashola Boils As Ambode Sacks Sister, Loyalists

The resignation of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode from the Lagos State Civil Service at an early age in 2012 as the Accountant General of Lagos State became a subject for debate during his campaign before the April 11 governorship election, but being an ‘anointed’ candidate of some powerful personalities in the state, he emerged the governor of the state.

What the opposition, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hammered on then was that Ambode was sacked by former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), but this was vehemently denied even though some insiders swore that Fashola pushed him out of his administration at that time.

But like a lion, whose pride has been seriously injured, and coming back for revenge, one of the first actions Ambode took shortly after he was sworn-in as governor in the state on May 29, 2015, was to kick out those he believed were loyalists of the man that allegedly forced him out of public service.

Aproko247 gathered that one of the first casualties was the younger sister of the former governor, Ms Yinka Fashola, who was in charge of the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, as General Manager.

Her agency was given the power to register those living in the state, which some people kicked against.

It was gathered that Ambode told Ms Fashola to handover all documents, properties belonging to LASRRA in her possession to the next person in command.

Also affected in Ambode’s rampage was the coordinator of Lagos Eko Project, Ms Ronke Azeez, who was fired by the governor after assuming office on Monday.

The woman was appointed by Fashola to handle the World Bank Assisted Project on Education in Lagos State. But to Ambode, there was no way he could have Ronke around him, knowing full well that his ‘perceived’ enemy gave her the job in the first place.

Not even the many laudable results she achieved with the agency could convince the handsome and innocent-looking governor to retain her for the job or a place for her in his government.

Gbenga Akintola, Chairman of Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, and Adenike Adekanbi, heading the Lagos State Facility Management Agency, were also casualties of Ambode’s onslaught as they were also fired.

Aproko247 was reliably informed that Fashola was taken aback by his successor’s actions, a claim we have not yet confirmed.

However, a source in Ambode’s camp, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our reporter that the governor did not sack these persons in retaliation of his resignation on August 2012 during Fashola’s tenure.