Many Nigerians have called out the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying that some of his spending were insensitive over a document shared online which revealed his administration procurement record.
Funsho Doherty, governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 poll in an open letter analysed the register of public procurement awards by the Lagos government for the second and third quarters of 2023 and listed some projects awarded by the state government that require greater scrutiny.
The open letter has continued to generate comments and reactions among Lagosians and Nigerians at large on social media since it was made public by Doherty.
Read also: Why we established Lagos International Financial Council, by Sanwo-Olu
Many Nigerians who reacted expressed dismay with the procurement record and criticised the administration’s spending, noting that some were unjustifiable in the present economic reality in the country.
The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State in the last election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour called out Governor Sanwo-Olu over the alleged N200 million spent defending his mandate at the election Petition Tribunal with taxpayers’ money from the treasury of Lagos State.
Gbadebo, in a post via X on Sunday, asserted that Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were taken to court and not the Lagos State government.
He knocked Sanwo-Olu over the inability to take up the legal bills and questioned why he would fund the legal issue with citizens’ taxes.
Read also: Lagos toe FG’s squandermania despite record debt profile
According to him, “We took Mr Sanwolu, Mr Hamzat, APC, and INEC to court. We did not take @lagosstategov to court. Why should the state fund his legal fees. Why should citizens’ taxes be used to pay for his representation.
“This is why they are always quick to say, ” Go to court” because they are so irresponsible and cheap, to not even pick up their legal bills.”
Also reacting to the procurement document, Olusegun Onigbinde, director of BudgIT, said the revelation shows that Nigerian leaders were not in turn with reality.
“Nigerian leaders live in alternate universe. Damn!!! N30m monthly empowerment programme for wife of Deputy Governor. Taxpayers dey work, politicians and friends dey chop,” Onigbinde said.
Similarly, activist Rinu Oduala, said the revelation by Doherty tells why some people would not allow free and fair polls in Lagos State.
“It’s evident why some would rather die than conduct free and fair elections,” Rinu said.
Michael Onu said some people would never want free and fair election just to maintain their hegemony and control of the structure.
Read also: Capital market critical to Lagos economic progress – Sanwo-Olu
“A part of this country depends on fraudulent census and fraudulent elections to maintain its hegemony. They will never allow free and fair elections.This is a deep thing young people don’t understand.
“Those who want free elections must fight to get it, I mean FIGHT!”
Another X user, Concerned Nigerians, said revelation was an indication that APC was just banking on the fact that Nigerians are lazy.
According to him, “Thank You Sir for taking your time out to do this, 7m for air fresheners. 2b for rechargeable fans and fridge for one office. 500m to renovate church.
“Among other things pointed out APC are just banking on the fact that Nigerians are too lazy to read.”
Another user by the name, Kelvin, said impunity had encouraged corruption and siphoning of public resources in Nigeria.
“Nobody will manage his private business this way, why things like this will persist is because people don’t go to jail for mismanagement and plundering of Government resources,” Kelvin said.
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