Lagos — Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) yesterday denied the report of a rift with his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and alleged impeachment threat by the State House of Assembly after a 5-hour close-door meeting.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly yesterday denied reports alleging that its plotting to impeach the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola.

Speaking after the meeting, Fashola said the meeting centred on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dismissing the report of impeachment threat.

According to him, the meeting includes Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, elder statesman, Alhaji Femi Okunu, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN) and Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire among others.

The governor explained that the deliberations between Tinubu and other participants were based on the ongoing Constitution Review Committee, for which Lagos State had been billed to host the South-West zone.

He said: "We just finished a meeting on Constitution Review. Lagos will be hosting the South-West zone. It is imperative for us to put things together before the committee arrives Lagos. You will recall that Tinubu, in his eight years as governor, had championed the course for Constitution Review.

"There is no rift between Tinubu and I. There are certain things that must be respected and should be discussed in politics. The relationship between Tinubu and I goes beyond being a governor and I will do all I can to sustain it. Some people are dreaming and if they remain in their dreams the development of Lagos will go on and leave them behind. There is no reason for us to fight.

Speaking on the alleged impeachment threat, Fashola said: "Tinubu is my leader and the leader of my party, the Action Congress. The state remains solidly united and I will urge all to stop peddling rumours."

He also said his relationship with the State House of Assembly was cordial. He also added that the comments from the Speaker of the House, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, during his budget presentation were only more of reappraisal.

The perceived face off between Fashola and Tinubu had been an issue that had been denied by the duo on several occasions.

There was an alleged move yesterday by the state House of Assembly to serve impeachment notice to the governor on the ground of financial indiscretion.

The governor had shortly after attending the Taxation Conference and Award Ceremony, held at the EXPO hall of Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, proceeded to the resident of Tinubu for a door meeting, which lasted for one hour.

After the closed door meeting in Tinubu's residence at Ikoyi, both Fashola and his predecessor went to the Government House to join other members of the steering committee on the Lagos State position on the review of the 1999 Constitution. The meeting lasted close to five hours.

However, at about 8.17pm, Tinubu drove out of the governor's residence and speaking with journalists 30 minutes after others had gone; Fashola said there was no crisis between the two of them. He said crisis only existed in the minds of those who had wished for the situation to be so.