…as Sanwo-Olu presents budget 2025
By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday November 21,2024 presented the 2025 appropriation estimate before the state Assembly, amidst shades of absurdities, that further widens speculated existing legislative/executive gulf.
The Year 2025 budget tagged ‘Budget of Sustainability’ which is made of a recurrent expenditure of N1.239 trillion (41%) and capital expenditure of N1.766 trillion (59%), is also to be sourced from a total revenue of N1,970,897,000,000 and total Federal transfers N626,137,000,000, met obviously well scripted theatrics as the previous festivity laced budgets presentation ambience was evidently absent.
Two main personalities clearly projected as lead role actors in the stylishly scripted scenery, are the Speaker of the state Assembly Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Sanwo-Olu who presented the state’s 2025 budget size of N3,005,935,198,401 which comprised a total revenue of N2,597,034,000,000 and a deficit financing of N408,902,000,000 hinged the estimates on five cardinals designed to ensure economic stability, environmental stewardship, and social equity.
The five cardinals are Infrastructure Sustainability, Economic Diversification, Social Inclusion and Human Capital Development, Environmental Sustainability, Governance and Institutional Reforms.
Obasa and other 39 lawmakers from the beginning of the plenary, signalled a tense atmosphere as his colleagues did not show up in the chamber in a uniformed manner that characterized their normal mood, when budgets are presented in times past.
Instead, dark shade glasses were seen on the faces of all lawmakers cladded in different attires, who merely strolled into the chamber later than usual.
After the fiscal estimates for the year was presented by Sanwo-Olu and it was time for the official response by the House, Obasa added a new twist having rallied the concurrence of his colleagues who had passed a vote of confidence on him with a standing ovation to drive home their assertion earlier.
He said: “We want to assure Mr. Governor that this honourable House will look at the budget and do the necessary scrutiny as usual.
“But it should be noted that this institution remains resolute. We will never be disgraced, abused or ridiculed in the name of creating a seamless working ambiance.
“It is also important to state here that this House is a sanctuary and temple, just like every other temple anywhere where we all worship.
“No one will violate any temple and expect the gods to accept his or her sacrifice. And if such happens, there must be an appease to the gods to accept such atonement.
“No amount of intimidation or coercing will disintegrate or change the belief of all the members of this institution!”
Obasa in his speech sounded a note of warning that whoever lives in a glasshouse need not throw stones, he then went further to affirm his stance on spurious allegations making the rounds about moves to create a blood link with a powerful family in Lagos, so as to ease his jostling for the governorship seat in the state.
“Let me also emphasise that those who live in glass houses must not throw stones as the saying goes.
“This also brings to my mind, according to our people: eni ba yara logun ngbe. Meaning, the god of iron recognises the swift ones.
“In other words, those who are facilitating or planning to interfere in this House or destroy the cohesion of this institution should also be prepared for the same fate.
“It is also important to correct the impression from some naysayers who have been insinuating that I made payment to seek for blood relation in Ojo to validate my candidacy to run as governor.
“Of course, I have never denied the fact that I am OBASA. But rather, I have never claimed to be related to Onikoyi, Oniru, or any of the other popular Lagos families as the case may be.
“I can indeed never run from the fact that I am related to my Obasa family in Ojo. But I do n need local validity to contest or run. If eventually I am contesting, I will do so from Agege!
He added that the budget was presented at a time when there is a surge of complaints by Nigerians about the economy. He, however, appealed to Nigerians to be hopeful as President Bola Tinubu’s administration works to ensure the nation’s economic recovery.
“I have made it a personal task to mobilise people on the platform of Mandate, which has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being a selfish aspiration on the ground for me to become governor of the state.
“There is the need, however, to correct this wrong impression. My concern is about building our party, and whatever we do is mainly for this cause.
“To the blackmailers who have embarked on the mission to distort and redefine our mission, let me state it unequivocally here, our intention is to promote our party on the platform of Mandate.
“Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better of.”