The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a total of ₦1,768,014,155,285 as the budget for 2023 with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, thanking the lawmakers for their collective sacrifice and swiftness with which the Appropriation Bill was handled.
A breakdown of the approved budget size shows the sum of N748,096,508,571 as Recurrent expenditure and N1,019,917,646,713 as Capital expenditure for the year ending 31st December, 2023.
A part of the breakdown for the sectoral allocations also shows that N3,228,396,960 was approved as the new Overhead Cost of the Office of Civic Engagement for drug abuse advocacy.
The sum of N802,987,206 was approved as the new Capital Expenditure of the Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget while N1,200,000,000 was approved as the new Overhead Cost (Social Intervention and Humanitarian Programme) in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.
Dr. Obasa, who presided over the plenary, said the passion with which the lawmakers processed the bill for passage showed their love for the progress of Lagos State.
He also expressed hope that residents of the State would show their satisfaction with the lawmakers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by voting for candidates of the party in Lagos and at the centre during the forthcoming election.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in October presented the sum of N1.69 trillion ‘budget of continuity’ to the House.
While receiving the proposal from the Governor, Speaker Obasa had urged that the 2023 budget “should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents of the State as part of the THEMES agenda of the administration.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has said that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, is not an indigene of Lagos State.
George spoke on Tuesday morning on Arise TV’s Morning Show, where he discussed the candidacy of Tinubu as well as the internal crisis within the PDP.
According to him, the APC candidate has yet to prove his Lagos roots beyond a reasonable doubt, having failed to produce any evidence to support his claim.
He said, “Tinubu is not from Lagos State. You can quote me. If he says he grew up in Isale-Eko, which school did you attend? I grew up on Evans Street in Lagos. 35 Evans Street was my grandfather’s house. I went to the community school. I played football at the local stadium at Isale-Eko. That’s how people knew me.”
Asked if the opposition party would be able to resolve its internal crisis before heading to next year’s polls, George said the reconciliation would only happen if the party’s hierarchy “gives unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”
He further stated that since the formation of the party almost 25 years ago, the North-Central, which currently holds the position of the national chairman, had predominantly occupied the position of the party’s leadership.
He added, “It is not a solution that cannot be handled. All we are saying is give what belongs to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give us what belongs to us. Turn by Turn Nigeria Limited. Take for example, what I am angry about is this, the first chairman was late Papa Solomon from North-Central. The second chairman, North-Central.
The third chairman, Audu Ogbe, North-Central. The fourth chairman, my oga, Dr Amadu Ali, North-Central; Baraje, from Kwara, was also North-Central. Now you have Ayu, also North-Central.
“The South-West has never enjoyed this position since the party started almost 25 years ago. What is our crime? If you are telling us you want to rule this country, you have to weave all the tribes and all the people together. That is the major problem, and unless that is resolved, I will not vote for our own candidate.”
The Labour Party has sacked its acting National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, barely two months before the 2023 general elections.
ODUDUWA NEWS reports that the party’s National Working Committee which took the decision on Friday, also dissolved the executives of the Ogun State chapter of the party.
It was gathered that the LP’s Ogun executives were involved in alleged anti-party activities.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has today met with stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Iseyin in preparation for the official campaign flag-off in Oyo State.
Gov. Makinde also kickstarted his open campaign tour to various places and destinations in Iseyin. He was seen distributing flyers to market women and women in Ojaba market and other areas of the town.
Among people that escorted him to various places were the leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Oke-Ogun as well as some dignatories of the town.
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Ramon Mustapha, a driver assigned to one of the sports utility vehicles in the convoy of “Seyi Makinde,” died in a horrifying car accident yesterday while they were traveling from Saki after a PDP stakeholders meeting tour.
After hitting his skull on the ill-fated vehicle, which is alleged to have somersaulted multiple times, he was reported to have passed away instantly.
The three accident victims were sent for immediate medical attention to a nearby medical institution.
It was learnt that the accident happened around noon as Makinde was coming from Saki, where he had gone for reconciliation prior to his second term bid.
The remains of the late driver, who was described as humble, respectful and very dutiful, were buried at his Amuloko, Ibadan residence on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.
The media aide to the immediate past Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan has alleged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s men of looting Government House, Osogbo.
He expressed disappointment at the false alarm raised by Adeleke’s men who, according to him, should have been ordinarily guided by the record of the inventory taken before the formal handover of the items in Governor’s lodge and Presidential quarters in Government House respectively.
Omipidan averred that it was unGodly for Adeleke’s stooges to have raised empty alarm over an illicit action taken by them, saying it is on record that the new government took over the possession of the Government House a day to the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke.
Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday in Osogbo, Omipidan described the looting allegation as not only ridiculous but sarcastic as it was intended to soil the reputable image of his principal.
Omipidan slammed Adeleke and his men for their failure to protect all the items bequeathed to them by the administration of Oyetola, just as he queried why it took them 72 hours after they had formally taken over the property before raising obnoxious allegation of looting.
He asserted that all the items alleged to have been carted away were intact as at the time of handing over, saying “if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.”
Omipidan who described his principal as a man of impeccable character, asked “how on earth any right-thinking person will accuse him of stealing things as cheap as spoons, methylated spirit, cooker and emptying the First Aid Box?”
He said his principal stopped sleeping in the Government House on Saturday, November 19, 2022 and by November 26, 2022, an inventory was conducted in company of DSS officials who were attached to the Government House at the time and security operatives attached to the new Governor, particularly A. Umale and Pius Akpan.
According to Omipidan, in the DSS report dated November 26, 2022, and titled: “INVENTORY OF ITEMS IN OSUN STATE GOVERNOR’S AND PRESIDENTIAL LODGES,” it is reported that, “On 26th November, 2022, about 1400houre, a team of the Protocol Department, Osun State Governor’s Office, Abere, led by Mr. FALODE, in company of two(2) officers of the Department of State Services (DSS), namely Usman ADEDIRAN and Sunday Posu, painstakingly took the inventory of items in the above mentioned places.
“The items were thereafter handed over to A. UMALE and Pius AKPAN, DSS personnel and security details of the new Governor, ADEMOLA ADELEKE without any complaint.
“It is further noteworthy that nothing suggests that any of the items in the buildings was carted away, as all were intact as at the time of handing over. Attached herewith is a list of items in both buildings. And they went further to list the items one by one, covering 8 pages. In the inventory, among the items listed are: 6 Face Big Gas Cooker with Oven and 4 Face Kenstar Cooker with Oven among others.
“It is, therefore, ridiculous to accuse my Principal of taking away spoons, cooker and methylated spirit. From the foregoing, if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.
“They cannot take over, and then come to raise alarm 72 hours later that there was looting in the same place where they held their inauguration party on Sunday, November 27.
“If they think this is how to pay a man who gave his all for four years so that Osun could be back to reckoning, God our Creator, who is not a God of hypocrisy, will pay them in their own coin appropriately,” Omipidan added.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has met with the religious and community leaders, students and traders in Osun State on Wednesday.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
“I met with religious and community leaders, students and traders in Osun State. They agree about the failure of APC and share their hopes in our Recover Nigeria mission. I told them that the one party that can secure the lives of Nigerians, end hunger and reduce poverty is the only party with a track record of such lofty achievements— PDP.
The Director, Strategic Communications of the National Election Management Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dele Momodu, Tuesday, chided the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, over what he called his less than impressive engagement with his audience at the Chatham House, United Kingdom, on Monday.
Momodu said chieftains of the APC were ‘window-dressing’ Tinubu on a global stage.
Tinubu’s performance has continued to draw mixed reactions, particularly from the opposition parties who were left unimpressed by the candidate’s decision to throw some of the questions he was asked to the APC chieftains including the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
In a piece titled, “Weep not for Tinubu but Nigeria,’ Momodu slammed the handlers of the former Lagos state governor for causing the nation a huge embarrassment on a global stage.
“Call it what you will, what happened at Chatham House, London, yesterday (Monday), was a complete charade. The Tinubu handlers fumbled, and bungled it big time. They showcased him like a packaged invalid. It would have been better to present him as a brilliant politician and administrator, warts and all, who is capable of independent thoughts. No man is perfect. His gaffes would have been more pardonable and acceptable. He was expected to sell his own vision and mission.
“But what we saw yesterday was a theatre of the absurd. It brought back memories of our great former President Umaru Yar’ Adua and how he mysteriously disappeared from radar and some of his aides governed by proxy. I was one of those who led the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest against the Yar’ Adua cabal in Abuja in 2010. What was unacceptable then is even more unacceptable now with benefits of hindsight. Our country should be placed above friendship.
“Truth is, the problem of Nigeria is often aggravated by the voluptuous ambitions of some acolytes who wish to remain eternally relevant in the corridors of power at the expense of the long-suffering nation,” he said, adding that “all those around Tinubu yesterday (Monday) knew the bitter truth but chose to fool Nigerians.”
He continued, “One of them was heard in a viral video telling Tinubu to dance to the popular song ‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel because “that’s what the youths want to see,” and lo and behold, Tinubu instantly transfigured into an accomplished choreographer.
“It is very sad, and unfortunate, that whenever we think Nigeria can never sink deeper into the abyss, something occurs that jolts us out of such assumptions and complacency.”
The PDP campaign spokesman recalled that seven years ago, incumbent Commander-in-Chief did a good job when he appeared at the same venue to engage with the global audience.
“I was with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the day he visited Chatham House seven years ago. He was solid and charismatic. He needed no one to prompt him. He answered questions eloquently and intelligently to the best of his abilities.
“That is what Tinubu was expected to accomplish yesterday (Monday). What he did instead was like inviting helpers to sit the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination. It is horrifying to watch some respected intellectuals like El-Rufai and Fayemi as they struggled to window dress Tinubu on a much hallowed global stage,” he lamented.
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has been reassured of unflinching support by Oke Ogun zone.
The foremost raditional ruler, Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyedepo made this disclosure today while playing host to Gov Makinde at the stakeholders consultative meeting held at Oyo State Agric Development Agency Hall, Saki OYSADEP.
Oba Khalid said Makinde has facilitated alot of projects to Saki and Oke-Ogun at large and that there would be a pay back time for all what he has done for the entire citizens of Oke-Ogun.
Makinde while speaking, appreciated the people of Oke-Ogun for their support towards his administration.
He reassured the people of Oke-Ogun of more developmental projects if he is reelected in 2023.
He therefore charged members of his party to ensure that they work together towards his re-election.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the oil and gas sector can no longer sustain the nation in the face of burgeoning population.
Obasanjo said this when he hosted the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group of the Tiv from Benue State, Mzough U Tiv (MUT) at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) penthouse in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the weekend.
He urged fellow Nigerians to see the country as one for all “to save it and restore to what God has created it to be”.
The elder statesman, who was responding to a speech by MUT’s President General, Chief C. P. Iorbee Ihagh, noted that only more farming and modernised agricultural businesses could solve the food needs of Nigeria’s growing population.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President and renowned farmer advised the Tiv nationality to focus on farming and agricultural businesses.
The elder statesman said he had treated the burning of his farm in Benue State as an act of fate, hinting that he might establish an industry in the state next year.
Obasanjo said he supported the change of the country’s leadership from the North to the South while, adding that the Middle Belt should continue to call for rotational presidency.
“If Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point. We should not go for emotion that will destroy us,” he said.
The ex-President, who was conferred with the title of a “Great Warrior” of Tiv land by MUT, warned that voting for candidates on the basis of emotions would be destructive.
Ihagh said the group’s friendship visit “is basically to interface with you as our former Head of State, a political pillar, a nationalist, and an elder statesman, to appreciate your overwhelming love, passion and he concern you have demonstrated over the Tiv people”.
The MUT president general listed three prayers for the former President’s consideration, including the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue State and inclusive national politics.
He reminded Obasanjo of Fulani herders’ attacks on TIV land and the group’s position on the need for a power sharing formula among the nation’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
“With regard to the current power equation in the country, we in the Mzough u Tiv, in conjunction with the Middle Belt Forum, had unanimously resolved for power shift from the North to the South for fairness, justice and a true federalism.
“We want to call on Your Excellency and other well-meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice.
“If this is enforced, the Middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next President in Year 2031,” Ihagh said.
