Society Gists

In a disturbing twist within the corridors of power in Lagos State, damning revelations have emerged about Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS, Urban and Physical Planning. Several sources within the Lagos State civil service and political circles have painted a grim picture of a man whose actions allegedly run contrary to the very fabric of ethical public service.

Dr. Babatunde, appointed to oversee a critical component of Lagos State’s urban planning and digital mapping infrastructure, has reportedly turned his office into a personal empire, sidestepping the rules and procedures that govern the state’s civil service operations. Civil servants under his jurisdiction are said to be frustrated, bewildered, and afraid, as the Special Adviser allegedly conducts his activities without due process or accountability.

Multiple insiders allege that Dr. Babatunde routinely flouts established procedures, bypassing the civil service chain of command, and operating as a law unto himself. “He doesn’t respect due process. He dishes out instructions like a warlord, ignoring the ethics that bind public servants,” a senior official in the Ministry of Physical Planning, who requested anonymity, confided.

Sources close to the administration claim Dr. Babatunde has formed an unofficial and unauthorized team of thugs and political errand boys who execute covert and questionable directives on his behalf. These boys, believed to be working under his instructions, reportedly intimidate, manipulate, and sometimes force compliance from individuals and institutions, all under the guise of officialdom.

“He boasts that he is untouchable — that not even the governor can question him,” another source said. “It’s like he sees himself as above the law.”

In a baffling contradiction to his current role, Dr. Babatunde is said to be secretly nurturing a political ambition far from Lagos — aiming to become the next governor of Oyo State after the tenure of the incumbent, Governor Seyi Makinde. This raises serious ethical questions: How can a sitting aide to the Lagos Governor be using state resources and influence to build a political base in another state?

Observers fear this double-dealing could compromise state resources and betray the trust of Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appointed him in good faith. “You can’t serve one state while plotting to govern another. It’s treacherous and shows a complete lack of loyalty,” a political analyst noted.

The actions of appointees like Dr. Babatunde do more than violate rules — they endanger the integrity of the governor they represent. Every rogue operation, every civil service rule broken, and every illegal directive issued under the government’s name chips away at the credibility and public trust Governor Sanwo-Olu has worked hard to build.

“When political appointees act with impunity, it sends a message that the governor condones such behavior. It’s a dangerous precedent,” a senior retired bureaucrat warned.

The Lagos State Government must take swift action to investigate these allegations and reassert the rule of law within its administration. Political appointments should never be licenses for tyranny, arrogance, or personal ambition cloaked in public service.

Source: NAIRALAND