Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa as the substantive chairman of Agege Local Government.
Sanwo-Olu charged him to focus on grassroots development and align his leadership with the state’s broader development agenda.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Monday at Lagos House, Ikeja, also featured the swearing-in of Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary.
Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, had been serving in an acting capacity before his confirmation and formal assumption of office.
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu described local government as the closest tier of government to the people, emphasising the need for responsive, inclusive and compassionate leadership.
He urged the newly inaugurated Agege council chairman to avoid divisive politics, govern transparently and deliver tangible results to residents.
The governor stressed that discipline, performance and service delivery remain the key benchmarks for leadership and progression in Lagos State.
He also acknowledged the presence of retired permanent secretaries at the ceremony, praising them for their exemplary service and enduring contributions to the state’s civil service.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated both Adejimiwa and Obasa on behalf of the Lagos State Government and its people, expressing confidence that they would justify the trust placed in them and contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.
In their separate remarks, Adejimiwa and Obasa thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged to uphold the values, standards and ethics of public service in Lagos State.
Obasa formally assumed office following the resignation of the former chairman, Mr. Tunde Azeez. The legislative arm of the Agege Local Government confirmed his appointment earlier in November during a plenary session, endorsing his elevation from vice chairman to chairman.
Lawmakers unanimously accepted Azeez’s resignation, citing health challenges that reportedly affected his ability to effectively discharge his duties. They subsequently resolved to install Obasa as chairman, describing the move as necessary to ensure continuity, stability and uninterrupted service delivery in the council.
Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the July 12 local government elections in Lagos State, concerns had been raised over alleged imposition of candidates in Agege.
A civil society group, the Concern Group Initiative (CGI), had called on the APC national leadership to ensure a transparent and fair nomination process.
Public tension increased after reports emerged that Speaker Obasa’s son had been endorsed as the party’s chairmanship candidate.
Amid the backlash, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa was reportedly persuaded to step down and became Azeez’s running mate, a development that ultimately positioned him to assume office following Azeez’s resignation.
At 33, Obasa has emerged as the youngest local government chairman in Lagos State.
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