No condition, they say, is permanent, as tables are always liable to turn. This statement manifested itself in 2014, when former President Goodluck Jonathan fired the then governor of Central Bank Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who went on to become the Emir of Kano.
Like all truisms, the statement has come to prove itself again six years after. Unlike the former which had a geographical schism, this one happens to be within proximity, involving two close friends and kinsmen – Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past governor of Lagos state and Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the former chairman, Lagos Board of Internal Revenue and Chief Executive, Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
In August 2016, Ambode had sacked Ogunsanwo over the allegations of fraud. In the coming weeks, Ogunsanwo will be coronated as the Alara of Ilara kingdom in Epe. The twist of the tale is that the kingdom happens to be where former governor Ambode hails from. Is the universe playing a cruel trick? Many might wonder as the level of awkwardness will probably be astronomical due to the tables turning (Mr. Ambode not returning as governor for second term and Prince Ogunsanwo becoming a king in his community.) It is also expected of the former governor to pay obeisance to the Alara whenever he is within the vicinity as a notable individual. Will it be a bitter pill to swallow for the former governor or will they get over it as bigger men?
As Alara of Ilara kingdom, it is not in the least bit a second-tier kingship but a first class kingship in which the king is definitely the right hand man of Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos. The Alara is also the deputy-chairman of the Lagos Council of Obas.
It would be recalled that Ogunsanwo had succeeded Mr. Tunde Fowler, who was appointed Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Shortly after resuming office and at the prompting of Ambode, he took an axe to the structure inherited from his predecessor, sacking many top staff hired by Fowler.
Sadly though, Ogunsanwo was sacked after spending eleven months in office. His departure from the revenue-collection agency was conveyed in an internal memo dated August 26, 2016 and signed by J. Aina, the Board Secretary. The memo informed staff that Ogunsanwo was proceeding on retirement from 25 August and had handed over to Mrs. Akintola Bolaji, the Director, Tax Audit.
The sack dealt a deadly blow to Ogunsanwo, who had thought he was going to occupy the seat for much longer and had boasted on appointment that he would double the state’s internally generated revenue.
It was gathered that Ogunsanwo was sacked when he could not account for about N4.2billion which belonged to the LIRS. This was said to have earned him a query from Ambode. However the former governor was not impressed with Ogunsanwo’s response and he ordered him to proceed on compulsory leave pending the conclusion of investigations into the sum unaccounted for.
During the investigation, Ogunsanwo, allegedly, refunded the sum of N1.2 billion. His decision to cooperate with the investigators was a major reason the government spared him the embarrassment of being exposed and prosecuted.
But barely three years after, there is a reversal of fortune. Ambode was forced out of office last year while Ogunsanwo is set to be crowned as a king in Lagos, a first class king at that!
The Oba-elect, Ogunsanwo, is regarded as one of the most outstanding and thoroughbred professionals in tax administration. This is a feat he was able to attain through of decades of hard work, commitment to duty and utmost desire to reach the zenith of professionalism.
Ogunsanwo attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 1984 and 1988 and bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Economics, before heading to the Lagos State University for a Masters in Public Administration (MPA). He also has a Masters of Science (M.Sc) from the University of Lagos. He kicked off his career with a stint in the banking sector before moving to a government establishment where he plied his trade as a tax administrator for twenty five years and rose through the ranks to become the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) where he served between September 2015 and August 2016. He served with utmost discipline with enviable legacies trailing his stewardship.