By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, following a controversial post on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. The suspension was due to Ajetunmobi’s “misrepresentation of facts” related to a past incident, according to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
In the now-deleted post from November 23, Ajetunmobi claimed that individuals responsible for burning down a media outlet during the 2020 #EndSARS protests were “hunted down and executed.” He further claimed that one of the alleged perpetrators was found with an AK-47 and that “majority of them have been hunted down and executed.” When questioned about the statement, Ajetunmobi attempted to clarify, stating that some of the individuals were involved in an exchange of fire with soldiers and were killed in the process, a claim that sparked concerns about possible extrajudicial killings.
Governor Sanwo-Olu responded to the controversy, emphasizing that his administration condemns any form of extrajudicial punishment. In a statement, Akosile reiterated that the governor’s position is that such actions “are not who we are,” affirming the state’s commitment to lawful conduct.
In a separate development, the Lagos State House of Assembly began discussions on the 2025 budget, which includes a proposed expenditure of N3.005 trillion. During Monday’s plenary, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa referred the budget to a joint committee on appropriation and finance for review. Committee Chairman Sa’ad Olumoh raised concerns about a projected N408 billion deficit, cautioning against over-reliance on loans for financing. He recommended exploring alternative funding options, such as public-private partnerships, to ensure sustainable financial practices.
