Rhodes-Vivour demands Sanwo-Olu’s resignation over misuse of public funds

Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, the Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State in the 2023 general election, has called for the immediate resignation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The call is in response to a statement made by the state’s Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, assuring that Sanwo-Olu would not misappropriate public funds.

However, Vivour has faulted the claim, asserting in a statement that the state government was allocating significant sums of public funds to activities that do not directly benefit the populace.

He raised concerns about the economic challenges faced by Lagosians, including record inflation, and criticised the alleged misuse of public funds.

In his statement, Vivour referenced a document titled ‘JANUARY-AWARD -2 023,’ available on the official website of the Lagos Public Procurement Agency, which he claims contains payments related to legal representation for Governor Sanwo-Olu in a lawsuit, totaling N200,000,000 to four different law firms.

He further highlighted other expenditures, such as N6,116,750 for the provision of furniture items at a campaign office and N20,000,000 for the decoration of a venue for a political delegates congress.

Vivour said, “Item 16 – 19 of the documents contains a description of payments as ‘Instruction to represent and defend Mr Sanwo-olu Babajide Olusola In: Suit No; FHC /CS/1979/2022 – Peoples democratic party vs INEC and 42 ors. This cumulative sum of N200,000,000 was paid to 4 different law firms.

“Furthermore, another document from the same official website titled JUNE AWARD 2023 on Item 52, describes a payment as -Provision of furniture items at campaign office, GRA Ikeja for the sum of N6,116,750. Item 276 on the July Award 2023 documents describes another payment as – DECORATION OF VENUE FOR POLITICAL DELEGATES CONGRESS for the sum of N20,000,000.

“At a time when Lagosians are grappling with record inflation, soaring poverty rates, and unprecedented unemployment caused by the incompetence of both the previous and current administration, it is disheartening to learn that the state government is allocating substantial sums of public funds for activities that do not directly benefit the populace.

“In most liberal democracies, like the UK where the governor recently returned from seeking international investment, this reckless abuse of office will amount to an impeachable offence.

“I strongly condemn this misuse of taxpayers’ money by the Lagos State Government and call for the Governor’s immediate resignation.”