The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday, said he does not lack the experience to contest the governorship race in the state, just as he noted that he had not given serious thought about becoming the next governor “as was already being speculated.”
Obasa said his major concern had been to strengthen the party in the state, adding that this was why he continued to mobilise more people to support the party at all times, an act he said had been misconstrued by “political detractors” to mean that he was chasing a governorship ambition.
The Speaker said this in his remarks shortly after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the state’s 2025 budget size of N3,005,935,198,401.
Obasa said, “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 off.”
The Speaker added, “In addition, 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 not need local validity to contest or run. If eventually I am contesting, I will do so from Agege.”
Earlier, a vote of confidence was passed in the Speaker by all the lawmakers present at plenary.
During his presentation, Sanwo-Olu said the budget comprised a total revenue of N2,597,034,000,000 and a deficit financing of N408,902,000,000.
The ‘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.
Reacting, Speaker Obasa noted that the budget was presented at a time 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.
Credit: Punch