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Photos: Speaker promised approved budget as Christmas present to governor

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu showed up at the venue of the budget retreat for members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Saturday describing the lawmakers as the best among their counterparts in other states.

The Governor further used the opportunity to emphasise the bond that exists between him and the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, while praising the lawmakers for lifting the bar of legislative excellence in Nigeria.

According to a statement made available to thecolumnNG by the Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers are in Abuja on a three-day retreat on the 2024 budget recently presented by the governor.

Speaking with the lawmakers at the retreat, Sanwo-Olu said: “This is the best and finest and it is worthy of emulation. I want to thank you and say this is, indeed, how we should always organise ourselves, keep up raising the bar.”

He thanked the Speaker, members, the Assembly Commission and staff of the House for always putting Lagos first before other considerations.

“You see, what Lagos State is doing shows that we are leading the way for other states to copy. We show the way in legislative, executive and judiciary affairs.

“This is an avenue for you to bond, interact, appreciate one another and effectively do the job that Lagosians have asked us to do.

“There is the talk around town that we have a big budget but I also tell them it is because we are big people. I appreciate the fact that you have huge responsibility and I pray God Almighty to give you the ability and courage to do the work dispassionately.

“Whatever is the outcome, you can rest assured that the Governor will stand by it and work with you.

“There is no animosity between the Speaker and myself. We are two different sides of the same coin. We are brothers and friends and God will lead us to a level where we can take Lagos to an irreversible state.

“Mr. President is watching us. He has no other state that he can call his own. He is the President of Nigeria but he has his roots in Lagos. Our success is his success and Nigeria’s success. When we get it right, the whole nation will be on its way to getting it right,” he said.

Describing the Governor as a leader, brother and performer, Obasa noted that Sanwo-Olu had always supported the House to carry out its functions.

“He has always answered our calls at every point in time. Thank you for coming to check on us and for everything you have been doing.

“We also thank you for not being like other governors who seal up the Assembly complex or who remove roofs of Assembly buildings. That is why Lagos is great and the Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standards of excellence.

“We are working on the 2024 budget and that is why we are here. I want to assure you that we will do our best to return the approved budget to you as soon as possible. It is going to be a New Year present to you and the people of Lagos,” the Speaker said.

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Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement 

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Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.

 

Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.

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Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup

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FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

 

The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.

Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.

Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.

The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.

The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.

Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.

The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.

According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.

The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.

The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.

The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.

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It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.

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Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.

 

According to Falana, the practice is illegal.

He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.

Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.

Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”

Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”

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