President Bola Tinubu has declared that he has reconciled with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, putting an end to any lingering tension between them.

Speaking during a closed-door session with members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) on Saturday, Tinubu stated, “It’s all over now. All is forgiven.”

The president’s remarks came after GAC members met with him in Lagos to mediate and appeal on behalf of Sanwo-Olu and others believed to have fallen out of his favour.

Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the GAC, welcomed the president and acknowledged the strained relationship.

He confirmed that Tinubu had been displeased with certain individuals in Lagos, especially the governor, and formally appealed for reconciliation.

Sources at the meeting revealed that Tinubu assured the delegation that he bore no ill will, with specific reference to Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The atmosphere reportedly shifted to one of healing and unity.

In a traditional gesture of humility and remorse, the governor and several members of the GAC were said to have prostrated before the president.

While the exact reasons behind the rift were not discussed in detail during the meeting, the central theme remained forgiveness and moving forward.

On this day, June 8, 1998, Nigeria awoke to the stunning news that its military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, had died suddenly at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He was 58 years old.

Abacha’s death, shrouded in mystery, came without warning.

No official cause was ever publicly confirmed, and in line with Islamic rites, he was buried the same day without an autopsy.

The sudden end of his rule brought a dramatic close to one of the most authoritarian eras in Nigeria’s post-independence history.

Rising to power in 1993 through a military coup, General Abacha ran the country with an iron grip.

Under his leadership, Nigeria saw a mix of economic stabilization and international isolation.

While some praised his ability to rein in inflation and restore a degree of fiscal order, his regime was notorious for its human rights abuses, brutal suppression of dissent, and large-scale corruption.

Political opponents were jailed or exiled, and the execution of activists, most notably Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine in 1995, drew global outrage.

The unexpected nature of his death left a vacuum at the top of Nigeria’s military hierarchy.

Yet it also opened the door to rapid political change. Just ten months later, in May 1999, Nigeria transitioned to civilian rule with the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military leader turned elected president.

More than 25 years on, the legacy of Sani Abacha remains deeply polarizing.

For some, he is remembered as a strong leader who brought order to chaos; for others, he symbolizes repression, lost potential, and the deep scars left by years of autocratic rule.

Regardless of where opinions fall, June 8 stands as a pivotal date in Nigeria’s modern history, a moment when the course of the nation began to shift away from dictatorship and toward democracy.

Amid growing speculation about political tensions in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday met with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s private residence in Bourdillon, located in the upscale Ikoyi area of the state.

Joining Sanwo-Olu at the meeting were members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the apex decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

The gathering comes at a time when rumors have circulated about a possible rift between Tinubu and the Lagos governor.

Tensions were thought to have escalated following the controversial removal, and subsequent reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speculation further intensified after Sanwo-Olu was noticeably absent from the flag-off of the deep seaport access road reconstruction in Epe-Ijebu Ode in early June, an event seen as significant within the state’s development agenda.

Social media users also raised eyebrows earlier this month when a video appeared to show President Tinubu seemingly snubbing Governor Sanwo-Olu during the inauguration of the completed Phase 1, Section 1 (30km, six-lane) segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

However, Sunday’s meeting appears to have eased concerns, with observers suggesting it signaled a mending of relations.

In attendance at the high-level meeting were Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his deputy, Mojisola Meranda; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and several other influential figures in Lagos political circles.

Since his arrival in Lagos on May 27, President Tinubu’s Ikoyi residence has seen a steady stream of high-profile visitors, coinciding with a series of events including the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Among the dignitaries who have paid courtesy visits to the president are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo; former presidential aspirant and cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare; Rivers State’s suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly responded to those calling for his removal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that no one has the authority or courage to expel him from the party.

Speaking during a media parley on Monday in Abuja, Wike reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP while emphasizing his significant role and contributions to the party.

“I am still in PDP. I worked hard for the party. I have not seen anybody who will have the guts to tell me, Wike, you are not a member of the party,” he said boldly.

He went on to challenge those questioning his status within the PDP, asking rhetorically:

“Who is that? What is his contribution to the party that is more than me?”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the appointment of several Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) accused of being affiliated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated June 7, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation stressed the importance of appointing non-partisan individuals with proven integrity in order to preserve public trust in the electoral process.

“Public perception of the independence of INEC is essential for building confidence in the electoral process,” SERAP stated.

“Where Nigerians have doubts about INEC’s neutrality, they are more likely to lose trust in the electoral system, thereby undermining democracy.”

The group cited concerns over the nominations and Senate confirmations of Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos), and Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers), all appointed in October 2023.

It urged the president to replace the appointees with non-partisan individuals and to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to prepare legislation aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence.

“The credibility and legitimacy of elections depend largely on the independence and impartiality of those appointed to manage the process,” the letter read.

SERAP referenced constitutional provisions such as Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits party affiliation among INEC members, and Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule, which mandates that RECs must be of unquestionable integrity.

The group also cited Nigeria’s obligations under international frameworks like the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and guidance from the UN Human Rights Committee.

“The will of the people is expressed through democratic elections. This requires not just legal safeguards but also public confidence in the institutions conducting the process,” SERAP stated.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken urgently to ensure respect for the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections,” it concluded.