Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and a certain Emmanuel Sanwoolu

Babajide Sanwoolu has not denied anything, nor has he confirmed anything. He has only sought cover under immunity.

Mr Babajide Sanwoolu

Babajide Sanwoolu is not a new name in Nigeria. Since he became governor of Lagos State in 2019, that victory has shot his name into the national limelight. But another Sanwoolu has surfaced who is unknown to Nigerians but claims biological affinity to the known Sanwoolu. The name of this other Sanwoolu is Emmanuel Sanwoolu. Emmanuel Sanwoolu is claiming the governor is his biological father. Emmanuel went to a high court in Warri, Delta State, and asked the court to compel the Lagos governor to submit to a DNA test to prove or disprove that he is his biological father. Jide Sanwoolu and his lawyers are invoking the immunity clause in the constitution to decline the call for Jide to submit to a DNA test. Emmanuel Sanwoolu's hope may therefore be dashed. But the issue poses moral questions which must be asked.

The first question is what the intention of the immunity clause in the constitution is. The immunity clause in Nigeria has become a cover for the governors to conduct all kinds of criminal acts and escape justice. Recently we heard some governors are keeping billions of cash in their homes. The law couldn't catch up with them because they are immune from arrest. I'm certain those who framed the constitution did not intend what it is now being used for. The immunity clause has been used to steal Nigeria's money. This is a crime against the people.

This Babajide Sanwoolu and Emmanuel Sanwoolu's case is another misuse of the immunity clause. Emmanuel Sanwoolu, if his story is true, has been a victim of circumstances and his pain may continue. According to him, his mother Grace Moses was a beautiful damsel when Babajide Sanwoolu worked in a private company in Warri between 1994 and 1995. Babajide Sanwoolu had an alleged affair with Grace Moses which produced Emannuel Sanwoolu. As alleged, Sanwoolu left Warri and Grace was not able to trace him again. If it happened and Sanwoolu did not think he was going to be a public figure when it happened, it is possible he saw his escape from Warri as one that is final. But things do happen. Babajide became a governor of the most prominent state in Nigeria and like a golden fish, he could no longer be hidden. Grace saw the name and recognized him. Emmanuel Sanwoolu is only 27 years but in those 27 years, he has fathered three children, which tells the story of unbridled procreation among the poor in Nigeria, a story of why 113 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor.

Thinking her rediscovery of Babajide Sanwoolu may bring an end to her grinding poverty and that of Emmanuel Sanwoolu, Grace Moses promptly called his son and told him Babajide Sanwoolu, the governor of Lagos is his father. It's beautiful to be the son of a governor in Nigeria, it's the world between poverty and wealth. But it is not easy to see a governor in Nigeria. They are gods who can only be accessed by other gods. Try as Emmanuel did, he could not access Babajide Sanwoolu. He took to the high court to demand the court compel Governor Sanwoolu accept responsibility as his biological father. According to different news accounts, Emmanuel's full name is Emmanuel Moses Sanwoolu. This implication of this is that Emmanuel may not as have always been Sanwoolu and apparently, Babajide Sanwoolu did not name him. His mother probably named him after herself. He is Emmanuel Moses at first, only adding Sanwoolu when Grace rediscovered Babajide Sanwoolu. Did Grace tell the son the truth? Only the records of Emmanuel will bear out. And Nigeria is not where records are kept and easily accessed.

Is Emmanuel the biological son of Babajide Sanwoolu? The conscience of Babajide will witness to only Babajide. Did he have a sexual relationship with a girl named Grace? Did Babajide work in Warri between 1994 and 1995? Records can confirm. Did Babajide have sex with Grace? Babajide’s conscience will bear witness to him, but Babajide may not want to own up to his conscience. Nigerian public officials are known for lying, especially now that campaign is on for the 2023 elections and Babajide is a candidate. DNA is the only scientific proof that can save the situation. But Babajide’s lawyers did not think twice, they advised him to seek cover under the immunity clause. And the hope of Emmanuel is dashed, at least temporarily until Babajide wins his election and finishes his term in 2027 during which Emannuel and his mother would have suffered psychologically and financially.

I'm sure the intention of Grace and Emmanuel is not to ridicule Governor Sanwoolu but to come into his limelight and come out of poverty. But here is Babajide, possibly fearing for his public image. The sexual relationship with Grace is possibly a one-time fling, nothing so serious but Grace became pregnant and Babajide escaped from town as alleged. Babajide's conscience must be tormenting him if this story is true. Babajide has not denied anything, nor has he confirmed anything. He has only sought cover under immunity. Perhaps Grace is confusing Babajide Sanwoolu with another Sanwoolu or perhaps at the same time she had sex with Babajide she also had sex with another man which resulted in a pregnancy. Emmanuel has no facial semblance with Babajide. How does Babajide admission and submission to the DNA test affect his image and election if it turns out that he is the biological father of Emmanuel? I don't see it anyway. Only Nigerian leaders love to live in the dark. It is only here that a leader will be sick unto death and will hide it from the public. There is no need to hide. Which young man has not been involved in fornication? Which grandmom of today was not involved in sex during her days as a girl? Many are only lucky those escapades did not result in pregnancy and consequent birth. Babajide and Grace may not have been as lucky as many others. Theirs resulted in Emmanuel if that story is true. So, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, you have not done anything unusual, if you did it. Let leadership in Nigeria begin to confront their past and not deny them. Nobody is born a saint.

As for Governor Sanwoolu, I know you are a Christian. If what Grace alleged actually happened, submit yourself to a DNA test and accept Emmanuel as your son. God has forgiven you your sins at salvation and you need not fear the reproach of man. I'm sure your wife will be magnanimous to accept Emmanuel into the family. Meanwhile, Emmanuel is a father of three. You will be taking part in God's redemption of the earth if you own up. You will help to heal the hurt of this young man and his mother who has nursed him alone for 27-odd years. You will only need to restore health to Emmanuel's business and help send his three children to school. Then he will be proud to bear your name. Meanwhile, the time has come to revisit this section of the immunity clause to save Nigerians from the torment it has become in the hands of governors. It is doing more harm than good.

Tunde Akande is both a pastor and journalist. He earned a Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos