I am a proud native of Ibadan, hailing from the Ile Agidi lineage in Oko Kure, Oja Oba, a warrior bloodline of the Olubadan. I was born to Emmanuel Oyelowo Babarinde, a descendant of Ogunlesi the Agidi Ogun, who settled in the Oje area of Ibadan, now in present-day Oyo State.
My early education began in Ibadan and was completed at National Primary School, Abule Ijesha, Lagos. I later attended Baptist Academy, Obanikoro—Deo Duce—where I was fortunate to learn alongside some remarkable Nigerians, many of whom are today respected engineers, barristers, judges, and entertainers. I consider myself immensely privileged educationally.
After my O-Level studies, I gained admission to the Federal School of Arts and Science (FSAS), Victoria Island, for a two-year Advanced Level programme. It was there I crossed paths with a young man named Babajide Sanwo-Olu—now the Governor of Lagos State—along with two other exceptional individuals: Mr. Yinka Ogunlewe, now a lecturer at Lagos State University, and Mr. Wasiu Akewusola, a retired permanent secretary in the Lagos State civil service.
Together, we dreamt big. We even formed an imaginary company called OBAS Ventures, derived from the initials of our surnames—Ogunlewe, Babarinde, Akewusola, and Sanwo-Olu—a youthful symbol of our desire to work and grow together. But as the Yoruba proverb says, “Ọgọ́mọ ọdún kọ̀ le ṣeré pọ̀ f’ọdún méjìlélọ́gọ́rin”—twenty children cannot play together for twenty years. Life took us in different directions.
I proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Civil Engineering, while Babajide Sanwo-Olu pursued Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering at the same university. Akewusola went on to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for his degree in quantity surveying, while Ogunlewe remained at the University of Lagos for his applied physics studies. We’ve all done well in our respective fields, but one of us has truly stood out in the political arena—Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. We are proud of his accomplishments.
A few years ago, he graciously invited me to return to Nigeria to contribute to his administration. While I wasn’t part of his government formally, I supported him from outside—and I remain proud of his leadership.
However, recent news of a rift between him and his political father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, caused concern. The speculations, criticisms, and calls for punishment of an innocent friend deeply troubled me. I can confidently vouch for Governor Sanwo-Olu’s character—he is a humble, principled, and progressive-minded individual. If there were missteps, they were certainly not deliberate or intended to hurt Asiwaju Tinubu, and some accusations may have been fabricated by political enemies.
Thankfully, the recent reconciliation between President Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu offers great relief. It is a positive sign not just for Lagos, but for Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Peace in Lagos means stability for the entire nation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban Borgu and Asiwaju of Yorubaland, has once again demonstrated wisdom, forgiveness, and political maturity. He will not regret reuniting with a loyal son like Governor Sanwo-Olu, who worked tirelessly to support him during the 2023 elections—even amid unexpected setbacks in Lagos.
We pray that peace and cooperation will continue between the executive and legislative arms in Lagos. May the state retain its place as Nigeria’s number one economy and a source of pride for Africa.
Thank you, President Tinubu, for your statesmanship.
Long live Lagos State.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
By Engr. Bola Babarinde
Former Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, presently the Secretary General Renewed Hope Global.
