By Bayo Wahab

Like the revered Oyomesi council of the Oyo Empire, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) stands as the ultimate power bloc in Lagos politics. From engineering the ouster of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the recent removal of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, the GAC continues to assert its dominance over the state’s political landscape.

The GAC is essentially an organ of the party that has been steering the state’s affairs from behind the scene since 2007, initially under the banners of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), followed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A top member of the group revealed to Vanguard that the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), founded in 1999 by former Lagos Governor and now Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, became more prominent in 2007. It has since functioned as a platform through which Tinubu exerts and maintains control over the party structure. Behind him, however, are numerous unseen forces that influence the dynamics.

Currently, the GAC, headed by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has 30 members, including ex-governors, ex-deputy governors, ex-speakers, former and incumbent senators, and elder statesmen and women.

While Tinubu is adjudged the prominent political godfather in Lagos, the GAC’s activities over the years have shown that the group is more influential and powerful than whoever occupies the Lagos Governor’s office.

There have been instances when Tinubu hinted the public about the group’s influence on political decisions in the state.

How powerful is the GAC?

Recently, when Obasa was impeached from his exalted seat, all fingers pointed at the GAC, even though members of the Lagos Assembly unanimously carried out the impeachment.

Obasa’s membership in the GAC didn’t save him. His removal was as swift as his replacement. However, while the conversation about his impeachment significantly centered on his undoing, political observers could see the GAC’s hands all over the case.

While the corruption allegations the House charged against him cannot be discounted, the GAC’s axe fell on Obasa because he overstepped his bounds, disrespected the state governor’s office, and externalized party issues without restraint.

According to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Muiz Banire, disrupting the party structure is considered an unforgivable sin in Lagos politics.

Banire noted that, as an experienced politician, the former Speaker should understand that opposing the interests of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) inevitably leads to political oblivion.

Without a doubt, Obasa’s impeachment underscored the group’s influence and once again demonstrated the sentiment that the Tinubus aren’t the only powerhouse in Lagos.

The GAC vs Ambode

Many Lagosians first heard about the GAC in 2019, when the group stood against the former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, ensuring he did not get a second term ticket.

Although the details of the conflict between the council and Ambode were not made public, his ‘sin’ was predicated on the narrative that he denied the council members some ‘dividends’ they hitherto enjoyed as the power that runs the state.

It was also rumoured that Ambode didn’t have issues with the GAC but with Tinubu, the de facto leader of the council. And by default, anyone in Tinubu’s black book automatically becomes a black sheep.

Despite entreaties, meetings, and even intervention by the then president, Muhammadu Buhari, to secure Ambode’s return ticket, the GAC asked him to test his popularity in a primary contest where he was the underdog  -  despite being a governor.

Ambode’s World Conference rant did not help his case either. After losing the primary, he disappeared from the Lagos political scene but remained a party member despite his ignominy. But as the saying goes, there’s no permanent foe in politics. Ambode has regained his relevance in the party and has now been admitted as a GAC member.

Fashola survived the GAC

The council almost axed Babatunde Fashola, Ambode’s predecessor, when he sought re-election amid his purported estrangement from Tinubu.

Chief Kemi Nelson (now late), a council member, confirmed the conflict between Fashola and Tinubu in an interview she granted before the 2011 general election.

She said, “There could be disagreement here and there. That is normal even between a father and son in the House. They will disagree to agree. If they don’t disagree, that means something is wrong.”

Even when Tinubu and the GAC downplayed the conflict and alleged plan to drop Fashola, the public sentiment was significantly in his favor as political analysts warned that the ruling party would be committing political suicide if it presented any candidate other than Fashola.

Fortunately, Fashola won the battle, and Tinubu eventually raised his hand. In a way, that was the only time the GAC’s interests failed to prevail.

Who are the GAC members?

Chaired by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the GAC currently has 30 members, which include Tinubu and his wife, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, Otunba Alebiosu Bushura, Prince Rabiu Oluwa, Alhaji Shakiru Seriki, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Sen. Tony Adefuye, Chief M. A. Taiwo, Abiodun Ogunleye, Chief Dele Ajomale, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and Omooba Murphy Adetoro.

Others are Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya, Dr. Finnih Oluyomi, Wale Edun, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Pastor Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, Femi Pedro, Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Adejoke Orelope, Chief Sunny Akinsanya Ajose, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe.

These are the power behind the throne, the invisible hands that rule and make key decisions that govern the affairs of the millions of Lagos residents. The Obasa saga and other past events have shown that the GAC is the Alpha and Omega of Lagos politics, and no political event happens in the state without their knowledge.

Vanguard News