The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, and the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the state, Babatunde Gbadamosi, on Thursday engaged in bitter online exchanges over refuse management and flooding.

The issue started when Mr Wahab responded to comments made on Tuesday on Channels TV’s Politics Today by the ADC governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour on the waste management and flooding challenges in the state. 

Mr Wahab stated that it was misleading to suggest that flooding was being ignored or that no meaningful progress had been made, admitting however that there were challenges.

Mr Gbadamosi, in reaction to Mr Wahab’s defence, offered solutions to the refuse problem, while condemning the state government for its excuses.

“That’s correct. You and your principals have had 27 years to do that significant work and things have simply deteriorated progressively to the point where Lagos State is now just one massive unified refuse dump. It is clear that either you, however well intentioned you might be, or your principals, or all of you, lack the capacity, or the will, or the inclination to fix the refuse problem,” said Mr Gbadamosi.

Disgusted by Mr Gbadamosi’s remarks, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commissioner, Mr Wahab, accused the ADC chieftain of failing to “successfully manage an estate with fewer than 100 residents, yet allegedly attempted to fraudulently take AMEN ESTATE from its female owner, only to eventually be sent packing by her.”

In response, Mr Gbadamosi noted that the case regarding Amen Estate would be told at the appropriate time, explaining that one of the issues during divorce cases is “asset distribution problems,” to which Mr Wahab replied, “Asset distribution” involving someone else’s property and investments?

Ole!”

Expressing displeasure at the fraud and theft allegation by Mr Wahab who is a lawyer, Mr Gbadamosi said, “You can defend yourself when it’s time to prove this allegation of “olè” you have so publicly made.”

Mr Gbadamosi, in another post, stated, “As to the issue of who stole what from who, you have already made a public claim of theft against me, which you will eventually have the opportunity to defend before a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Mr Gbadamosi also wondered why Mr Wahab wears a wrist watch costing £80,000, and vowed to make Mr Wahab account for every penny he spent as commissioner if the ADC wins the governorship election.

“As for my wristwatches, let me help you and your lazy followers out. I wear two at a time, and the least expensive of them costs no less than $80,000. You should get your facts right – they are worth much more than that. And just so you know, they are among the finest collections from the Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe. Poor-minded, ignorant clown!!” said Mr Wahab.