The Lagos State house of Assembly has debunked an allegation by one group that tagged itself, Lagos Anti corruption Coalition that the Assembly spent #17 billion to 'erect gate',describing the allegations as "laughable and unrealistic as there is no gate even with gold won't cost much like the amount quoted in the story
The position of the Assembly was made known on Wednesday by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security Hon Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode,stressing that the Assembly is an institution that bases its activities on facts and realistic evidence, not grapevine
The Press Release tagged "Re-Anti-Corruption Group Petitions EFCC To Probe Lagos House Of Assembly For Using N17billion 'To Construct Gate', posited thatit should have kept quiet on the matter ,but for the sake of posterity
According to the house "For a few days now, there have been some attempts to bring to disrepute the achievements and exemplary successes of the Lagos State House of Assembly and its leadership. Our silence over some of the issues raised by a group which tags itself as the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, a hitherto unknown body claiming to be fighting corruption, does not amount to consent, but because we did not want to glorify what looked like information sourced from a beer parlour or joint with a response"
"Furthermore, we feel the need to put the record straight and lay the facts bare because of the regard we have for Nigerians and the belief in posterity. The Lagos State House of Assembly is an institution that bases its activities on facts and realistic evidence, not grapevine as put forward by the fictional group"
Continuing 'For instance, how will any sane person even imagine that such a humongous amount as N17 billion could be allocated for the construction of ‘a gate’? Just one gate? Even if the gate is made of gold, would it cost such an amount? To the group that decided to rush to the public without thinking through or double-checking what it said it sourced through ‘grapevine’. It is good to know that there was no project like that at the House of Assembly as claimed. The gates at the House had been fixed over three years ago"
The Assembly stated further is worthy to let the group know that even though the Assembly has its own procurement unit, it still relies on the State Government’s procurement process from start to finish. It is, therefore, preposterous to think that in Lagos, contracts should be like witchcraft and its nocturnal posting.
Moreover , "it is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko. One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics. Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state. These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs as parts of subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects"
One other very laughable thing is the group’s belief in gossip and rumour. It even admitted, confidently, to this when it uses the word ‘grapevine’ in an attempt to say Speaker Obasa is a friend to the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukayode. If we may ask, is there anyone who enjoys making enemies? We do not know if the group does not have friends, but it is noteworthy that friendship is what makes the world go round. This idea is what the various social media continue to latch on. However, at the risk of interpreting the minds of those behind the group, they try to preempt uncertainty about their allegations but decided to hinge it on the acclaimed relationship between the two public officials.
On Friday, December 13, 2024, the House held its annual thanksgiving service for staff. While we do not know the fuss concerning the event that even resulted in a fabrication of the amount that was spent, we want to emphasise that the celebration did not start this year. In fact, this year’s event is the 22nd in the series meaning that it preceded the current leadership of the House. We understand the current situation of the country and the need for circumspection. This was why, for the first time in the history of the Assembly, we had a low-key budget presentation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unlike previously when it was a funfair. Nevertheless, this should not stop us from celebrating our staff who had put in their best serving the state exceptionally well from January to December. That is exactly what we did as also done by many other responsible institutions and organisations.
There is actually no need by the group and its traducers to try to pad up their stories with old allegations that have been adjudicated upon and trashed by the court. But one would understand that their strategy was to lump everything together to create a make-belief in the eyes of the public. This is why the allegation against a member of the House, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya as one who had collected a contract from the Ikeja Local Government Council, remains ridiculous as the two are only friends, a relationship that has not gone beyond the proverbial elbow. For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Akinsanya has never received a contract from the Local Government council.
Finally, the Assembly appealed to all Nigerians to disregard the unfounded allegations by the group , stressing that it was an attempt towards the 2027 election, which it's still a distance away
Finally "while we urge Nigerians to disregard the unfounded allegations by the group because they were merely based on hearsay and politically motivated due to the fear of some people about 2027 which is still a distance away, we want to reiterate that we, as a House of Assembly that has grown beyond the common standards of excellence, and other well-meaning Lagosians and, indeed, Nigerians would continue to work in harmony for the peace, progress and development of Lagos State"
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