Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday swore in the Vice-Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Mr. Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, as the substantive Chairman of the council.
Obasa, who is the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, was sworn in at a ceremony held at Lagos House, Ikeja. The event also featured the inauguration of Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu described the swearing-in as a call to service, urging the new council chairman to prioritise grassroots development and align his administration with the state’s broader development agenda.
He stressed that local government, the tier closest to the people, requires visible, responsive, and compassionate leadership.
The governor called on Obasa to govern inclusively, avoid divisive tendencies, and focus on delivering measurable outcomes for Agege residents. He noted that discipline and performance remain the benchmarks for leadership and advancement in Lagos State.
“Your task is to deepen community development, promote social cohesion and ensure that governance is delivered fairly, transparently and equitably,” Sanwo-Olu said. “You must work with your institutions and traditional leaders. You now have the mandate to reconcile your people and bridge the divide between policy and local realities.”
Vinod Obasa emerged as Vice-Chairman of Agege Local Government on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was sworn in alongside the former chairman, Mr. Tunde Azeez, on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Following Azeez’s medical leave of absence, Obasa had been overseeing the affairs of the council in an acting capacity until Azeez’s resignation on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, citing health challenges.
Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the presence of retired permanent secretaries at the event, describing them as exemplary public servants whose legacies continue to inspire the Lagos State civil service. He congratulated both Adejimiwa and Obasa on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, expressing confidence that they would justify the trust reposed in them.
According to the governor, the simultaneous inauguration of a permanent secretary and an elected local government chairman reflects the state’s commitment to policy continuity and effective grassroots governance.
“This is a moment for us to reinforce trust and responsibility,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Governance is strengthened when we put capable people in trusted positions and when public office is seen as a platform for service.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, described the occasion as “another call to a season of service, dedication and selflessness to the people of Agege Local Government Area.”
In their separate remarks, Adejimiwa and Obasa thanked the governor for the confidence placed in them and pledged to uphold the core values, professionalism, and standards associated with public service in Lagos State.
