Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied withdrawing $470 million from the state treasury to sponsor Federal Government’s AFCON delegation to Egypt, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that Sanwo-Olu, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and a host of others, had on Saturday stormed Egypt to watch the Super Eagles play Cameroon at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The match, which was monitored closely by Igbere TV, ended with a 3:2 win, with Nigeria qualifying for the next round.
The Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, had alleged that Governor Sanwo-Olu personally sponsored the trip with Lagos government money, on behalf of the federal government.
Reacting, however, the governor in a statement issued to Igbere TV by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described the story as “fake news.”
He said the governor only flew to Egypt as a delegate of the federal government, while calling on the PDP’s spokesman to “always fact-check before putting pen on paper.”
Full Statement,
“Out attention has been drawn to a press statement by Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu withdrew the sum of $470m to take himself and some persons including APC Chieftains to watch the Nigeria-Cameroon match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“There is nothing farther to the truth than this statement, which follows the same pattern of falsehoods usually dished out to the public by the PDP and its mouthpiece.
“For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu did not make any withrawal for the purpose of attending the AFCON in Egypt.
“It is a public knowledge that Mr. Sanwo-Olu was named among some other dignitaries to attend the ongoing African football fiesta in Egypt.
“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.
“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.”
