Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday officially swore in Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, a move that has again thrown Nigeria’s entrenched culture of political dynasty and elite recycling into public focus.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Lagos House in Ikeja, where Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated Mrs. Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State civil service. While the governor framed the event as a routine constitutional transition, many observers see it as another clear example of how power in Lagos politics continues to rotate within a narrow circle of politically connected families.
In his address, Sanwo-Olu emphasized that local government remains the closest tier of governance to the people, charging Obasa to deliver people-oriented leadership, promote grassroots development, and ensure inclusive governance across Agege. He urged the new chairman to work with traditional institutions, community leaders, and council officials to deepen trust and accountability, stressing that performance and discipline must define his tenure.
Obasa’s emergence followed the resignation of the former chairman, Tunde Azeez, on November 5, 2025, reportedly due to health challenges. Obasa, who was elected Vice Chairman on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and sworn in on July 27, 2025, had since been acting chairman before his confirmation by councillors.
Despite official assurances of due process, the optics of the Speaker’s son ascending to a powerful grassroots position have reignited public conversations around nepotism, political inheritance, and unequal access to power in Nigeria’s democracy. Critics argue that while millions of qualified young Nigerians struggle for political inclusion, opportunities at the local and state levels often appear reserved for children and relatives of entrenched political elites.
Supporters, however, insist that Obasa’s election and eventual swearing-in followed constitutional provisions and internal party processes, noting that lineage alone should not disqualify anyone from public office.
In his response, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa thanked the governor and party leadership for their confidence, pledging to justify the trust by delivering effective governance and tangible development for Agege residents. Mrs. Adejimiwa also expressed gratitude, promising professionalism and dedication in her new role.
As Lagos continues to market itself as a model of governance and institutional strength, the appointment underscores a deeper national contradiction: a democracy that preaches merit and inclusion but repeatedly rewards proximity to power. Whether Obasa’s tenure will silence critics or reinforce their concerns remains to be seen, but the symbolism of the moment is already resonating far beyond Agege.
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