Sanwo-Olu's Visit To Oyedepo Not Political —Aide Clarifies

Gov Babajide Sanwo Olu and Bishop David Oyedepo

Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed speculations that his principal’s visit to the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, was for support in his second term bid.

Sanwo-Olu had shared a picture of himself and Oyedepo on his verified Twitter page on Tuesday with the caption that read, “Yesterday was indeed a memorable day as I met with a man after God’s own heart, a man who has dedicated his life to the service of God and mankind. A highly respected man of God, whom I hold in high regard. Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel) and presiding Bishop of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State.”

This sparked reactions from some Nigerians who claimed that the governor has been going from one church to another in a desperate bid to get votes ahead of Saturday’s election.

However, in response to an inquiry on the purpose of the visit, the governor’s CPS, Akosile, on Tuesday, was quoted by Daily Independent to have said linking Sanwo-Olu’s visit to politics was absurd as he had always visited Oyedepo in times past when there was no election.

Akosile said, “No, the governor’s visit has nothing to do with politics. If you have been following the activities of Governor Sanwo-Olu, you would have noticed that he’s a thoroughbred Christian. He’s a man who values relationships especially with the leadership of the Church.

“He has paid visits to Bishop Oyedepo on many occasions in the past when there was no election and this particular visit is not an exception.

“Bishop Oyedepo is a man of God whom the Governor respects so much. He has been a beneficiary of his scriptural teachings and blessings. It is preposterous for anyone to link the Governor’s visit to politics or elections. No, it is not.”

Sanwo-Olu is vying for re-election as a second-term governor of Lagos State in Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

The Labour Party victory over the APC’s Bola Tinubu in Lagos in the February 25 presidential election brought a twist to Lagos politics with Sanwo-Olu’s ruling party believed to be unsettled by its loss in one of its strongholds.