20 YEARS AFTER, FG COMPLETES HANDING OVER OF PRESIDENTIAL LODGE, MARINA TO LASG

…We'll Transform Edifice To National Monument, Says Ambode
...Thanks Buhari, Osinbajo, Fashola, Others.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Minister for Power, Works & Housing, BRF

1. The Federal Government on Tuesday completed the final handing over of the Presidential Lodge, Marina to the Lagos State Government about twenty years after the journey to actualize it commenced.

Speaking at the brief but impressive handing over ceremony, held at the Conference Room of Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing in Abuja, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the development was a testament of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to bring positive change to Lagos.

Governor Ambode particularly commended the President, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and staff of the Ministry; Permanent Secretary in the Office of Chief of Staff to the President, and other stakeholders who worked to ensure the final transfer of the asset to Lagos.

The Governor said: "We are strongly delighted to be here on this historic day; on a day that actually finalises the intention of Mr President to bring positive change to Lagos.

"We want to sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari who has graciously approved that the Presidential Lodge be released to Lagos State and for the use of Lagos State which, just has said by the Minister, we have been trying to get for the last twenty years.

"We are pleased that on a day like this, it is my predecessor and present Minister of Works who is now doing the final handing over of which he had also been part of that process to get this asset back to Lagos but in God's own doing, the Minister is in the position today to do the final documentation and we are very grateful for that."

While alluding to the fact that the development was a sign of greater collaboration between Federal Government and Lagos State, Governor Ambode expressed optimism that it would be the beginning of process to get such assets back to the State Government.

Besides, the Governor said his administration would put the edifice to good use and transform it into a national monument to boost tourism and grow the economy of Lagos and Nigeria.

"This is a sign of greater things and greater collaboration between the Federal Government and Lagos State. We believe strongly that this singular gesture is part of what will improve the economy of Lagos because our intention is to turn that particular asset into a national monument where we can christen it a National Heritage Centre for Leadership and we will use it also as a tourist centre to bring Nigerians and foreigners to come to Nigeria and as well use that as a means of improving on the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria.

"On a final note, I want to show my sincere appreciation to the Minister and hope that this particular event will bring more good stories as we continue to see how much we can strive to get some of these assets back to Lagos State," Governor Ambode said.

Earlier, Fashola congratulated Governor Ambode and the people of Lagos State for the N1.04trillion budget estimate presented to the State House of Assembly on Monday by the Governor, and expressed hope that it would improve quality service delivery to the people of the State.

He said the signing of the document which formally vest ownership of the Presidential Lodge, Marina in the State Government was in fulfillment of the promise made by President Buhari, saying it was gratifying that the long journey spanning about two decades had finally come to an end.

He said: "This is a long journey that has come to an end; a journey that has taken almost two decades when the Lagos State Government asked that the property be vested in Lagos but for reasons that remained difficult to understand it did not happen but the President of change who is a promise keeper has made it happen."

Aside Governor Ambode, other Lagos State officials at the ceremony included the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde and Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya.

FASHOLA SLAMDUNKS LEGISLATORS INTO SUBMISSION

It is now obvious that if you don't have the intellectual capacity or the expected knowledge or the acquired wherewithal or immense resources at the disposal of BRF, you don't go after the Minister for Works, Housing and Power in the negative, in the person of the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN or else.

In what is akin to a collosal clap back of the mightiest order, he just responded to a clap back by the house which had tried to paint that he was just an unneccesary noise maker and a liar.

In his delivery and response to them, he shut them down totally in the most intelligent way, making the bunch look colourless, bereft of ideas, uncouth and not knowledgeable at all- "Nigeria is in trouble if NASS mistakes budgetary appropriation for cash!!!!"

Imagine that the Minister had to school the legislators on the difference between budget and cash? Something that they should have been very conversant with?

More after the break.

SCINTILLATING 50TH BIRTHDAY OF THE ICONIC RUTH OSIME. WHERE AT LEAST 3 SITTING GOVERNORS WERE PRESENT

GOVERNOR BABATUNDE FASHOLA, RUTH'S MOM & RUTH OSIME

RUTH OSIME

SONNIE AYERE, GRACE OSIME, RUTH, HER MOM & OMOME

.......LET'S GROOVE TONITE

You all already know that the This Day Style Editor, Ms. Ruth Osime clocked the big 5-0 last week Friday, February 7, 2014. And to celebrate her Jubilee year, she invited friends, family members, staff members and more to a classy shindig that held at the Red Carpet Hall, in Lekki Area on the Island. To have 3 sitting Governors of powerful states in Nigeria at your birthday is no joke at all, supported by at least 2 first ladies- Dame Abimbola Fashola & Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers.


To show that she's a jolly good 'fellow' or should we use 'chapess', people from all over came to celebrate our very dear own ''Anna Wintour''. Like we had said before or predicted before, it was a who-is-who gathering, made up of the young, the young at heart, and some not so young ones. 

Some of those that we saw at the party were the likes of Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers & Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta. Others were the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha,  Senator Daisy Danjuma, the gorgeous mom of the birthday gal, her younger siblings Grace Osime & Omome, Ebony Life TV MD Mo Abudu, Sonnie & Betty Irabor, Esosa Anenih, Pastor Tony Rapu of TPH, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Willie & Nkiru Anumudu, Vivienne Chioloji, Akin Olopade of Afromedia, UBA director Celine Loader, Debbie Oghene, Kehinde Ebie, Nina & Muka, Segun Sebanjo, Ngozi Onu, Sonnie Ayere, Sola Oduwole, Gbemi Shasore, Mojoyin Dekalu-Thomas, Peter & Olu Adegbeyi, Femi & Aima Lijadu, Moji Akinsanya, Adeola Adewunmi, Yetunde Allen, Fola & Lanre Ogunlesi, Ndidi Obioha, Owen & Elohor Aisien, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Folake Folarin-Coker, Chalya Shagaya, Veronica Ebie-Odeka, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Jumoke Adegbenro, Lara Rawa & very many others. 

From the little report we got, it was a first class shindig all the way, so much to drink & munch, with good music blasting all the way, making many still believe they are still very young. So much fun was it that we had people were still there till the wee hours of the morning. It was also a fashion fest sort of for the ladies, all looking good for the red carpet, knowing fully well they would be photographed. Birthday darling had 2 changes of outfits, first was a white outfit & 2nd was a black one, we totally love her short hair do, took years away from her. The delighted one showed her dexterity on the dance floor in joy to the admiration of all. No matter how or what anyone thinks, as long as you are happy with yourself, no one can dampen your spirit. Way to go Ruth. Many more great years ahead.

We have a couple of pictures of the birthday shindig for your good viewing pleasure.

Enjoy!!!Praaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

ABOUT 60 MORE PICTURES BELOW. CLICK ON READ MORE BELOW

PICTURE OF THE DAY- GOVERNOR BRF & THE ALLURE OF BOLI(ROASTED PLANTAIN)

BRF WITH COMMISSIONERS AREMO SEGUN ONIRU & PRINCE GBOLAHAN LAWAL

We totally, totally love the picture above and just had to post it. It just shows how human & down to earth some of our leaders are. They always get overly cocooned once they get into office and don't get to do what we all just love to do. 

Many who have gotten to certain levels in life, just seem to lose touch with reality after a while, pretending not to understand how ordinary people live anymore. 

Love the concentration on my beloved Governor's face, the boli (roasted plantain) sure looks great from the picture. Is that roasted fish next to it? Hmmmmmmm Full package.

WHERE IS THE SO CALLED OPPOSITION IN LAGOS STATE? ARE THEY READY FOR THE NEXT ELECTION?

 

MUSILIU OBANIKORO

ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU

A few weeks ago we had asked the question on this platform- Who is the next Governor of Lagos? Our reason mainly for asking was because we had observed some moves by some members of the ruling party- the ACN who seem to have loads of those that can vie for the post. Some were even already making their intentions known either openly or surreptitiously. Many names are been bandied around and everyone seem to be jostling one way or the other, trying to test the waters, though the election is still about 2 years away. We quite understand the fact that some are using it as bargaining tool for relevance.

While some have openly shown their intentions, some are still acting like they are not interested at all, while their body language says otherwise. We love the fact that those who commented on the last post seem to agree with some of the names with we had made mention of in our earlier write-up- the likes of Gbolahan Lawal, Obafemi Hamzat, Muiz Banire, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Gbenga Ashafa, Ganiyu Solomon etc. 

CONCLUDING PART AFTER THE BREAK. PLS CLICK ON READ MORE BELOW

WHO IS THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF LAGOS?

 

HON. ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI

SENATOR GANIYU SOLOMON

Many names are been bandied around already though the election that would chose who to replace the incumbent is still far off. Many are of the opinion that the choice of who to replace the current action Governor lies solely with the Asiwaju of Lagos, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But our findings shows that it might not be that easy. 


Already as we speak, much politicking is already ongoing in the background, so as to position those who feel they deserve to be the next to vie for the post. But as much as the party in power in Lagos is planning ahead for the next election. The main opposition party is not resting in their bid also to wrest Lagos away from the party on the throne right now. 
 

MUIZ BANIRE

Many names have cropped up in recent times, some of those we have heard about are the likes of former Commissioner for Environment and a top Chieftain of the ACN, in the person of Alhaji Muiz Banire, also on that list is Senator Ganiyu Solomon, a close ally of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, another is Obafemi Hamzat, the current Commissioner for Works in the administration of His excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, another also is Mr. Tunde Fowler, the current Tax boss in Lagos, he is the boss of the Lagos State Internal Revenue, another prominent name that has cropped up is that of the Permanent Secretary, Lands in Lagos State, Barrister Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who is the youngest amongst all the names being mentioned, another name we have heard in passing is that of another Commissioner in the present administration, in the person of Gbolahan Lawal. Mr. Lawal used to be the ADC to Asiwaju before and his lot has grown ever since then. One other name that used to be more prominent before was that of the current Speaker of the house in Lagos State, in the person of Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, but that name has gone to the back-burner since the scandal on the mismanagement of a colossal N7 billion. With many of these prominent names coming up daily, many do not know where the pendulum would swing in the case of the Asiwaju, who many believes holds the aces. And just like the Asiwaju did before in his choice of BRF, he might go ahead to surprise everyone again, by totally overlooking all those jostling for the post presently. 

But one very influential person many might be overlooking right now, but whose support might be very important for whoever should emerge to run for the election as the boss of Lagos in the next election, is the current incumbent. As much as people might not be looking his way, his say would be of utmost importance.  Also ready to spring a major surprise as long as they put their house in order is the PDP, but their surprise would depend on them choosing a fantastic personality to represent them.  

Some are of the opinion that ACN or would it be APC then, might not have it so easy this time around ooo. This might be because of some actions taken by this current Government that some might not have liked.




Time would tell anyway. And election time would soon be here. So lets wait and see.