The administration of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied the allegation that it withdrew a whopping $470 million to fund the federal government delegation to the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, there is nothing further from the truth than the statement credited to the Lagos chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Our attention has been drawn to a press statement by Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party claiming that the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu withdrew the sum of $470 million to take himself and some persons including APC Chieftains to watch the Nigeria-Cameroon match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON),” said the statement.
Akosile goes further to state that this “follows the same pattern of falsehoods usually dished out to the public by the PDP and its mouthpiece”.
For the avoidance of doubt, Akosile continues in the statement, “His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu did not make any withdrawal for the purpose of attending the AFCON in Egypt”.
He said it was a public knowledge that Mr. Sanwo-Olu was named among some other dignitaries to attend the ongoing African football fiesta in Egypt.
Adding that members of the federal government delegation to AFCON 2019 are Dr. Ahmed Lawan, as leader of the delegation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
“Governors nominated and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari are His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. Also on the list are Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr. Habu Gumel and a Representative of the Presidency; Captain Hosa Okunbo,” Akosile’s statement explained.
He said the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olusade Adesola and Muhammad Gambo, the ministry’s Director of Facilities, are also members of the delegation, which include a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to complete the 11-man list.
“Is it not laughable therefore that PDP will resort to issuing press statements based on fake news on social media? Does it not stand logic on its head to allege that Governor Sanwo-Olu spent $470m to fund a trip that he was nominated as a delegate?
“As we have always stated, we will again suggest to the Lagos state PDP and her spokesman to always fact check before putting pen on paper. Opposition politics is not built on lies and fake news”.