OSINBAJO SADDENED, CONDOLES WITH AFFECTED FAMILIES & DEBUNKS DESPICABLE LIES IN SPONSORED ONLINE REPORT

*VP has no interest whatsoever in said property

*All his property, assets already publicly declared

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is saddened by the events that occurred in Lagos on Monday, 1st of November 2021, where a high-rise building under construction on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, collapsed. He condoles with the families and relatives of all those who have died, were injured or affected in the collapse. Prof. Osinbajo considers this painful loss of lives a horrible tragedy.

Also, the attention of the Vice President has been drawn to an obviously sponsored falsehood regarding the recently collapsed building published by Sahara Reporters on November 4th, 2021, to the effect that:

1. The VP owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood.

2. That the said land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and

3. That the Vice President, at some point, intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property. 

Let it be made absolutely clear that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo does not own and has never owned the said land.

He has also never been involved, in any shape or form, in the development of this or any other land since he became Vice President.

At no time whatsoever did the VP buy this or any other piece of land from Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, or entered into any transaction for the sale of that land or any other piece of land from Chief Ade. Ojo or anyone for that matter.

All property and assets owned by the Vice President have been publicly declared.

Also, the Vice President has never spoken to the Governor of Lagos State or any other official of the State Government regarding the unsealing of the said building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which subsequently collapsed. He has, indeed, never acted to influence any other regulatory action on the collapsed building, or any other building for that matter, in Lagos State.

The Vice President restates categorically that he has no interest whatsoever, and has never had any interest, either legally or beneficially, in the land, the building or development.

The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilise a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives, even as rescue efforts are ongoing, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals a dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.

Sahara Reporters were undoubtedly well rewarded for their criminal and inhumane conduct. Typical of a hatchet job and deliberately irresponsible journalism, the publication was not signed by anyone.

The Vice President has referred this disgraceful publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action.

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President

5th November, 2021

Grammy award-winning singer, Wizkid, has achieved another feat with his 2020 song, “Essence”, which features fast-rising Nigerian artiste, Tems. The song reached platinum status barely a month after it was certified gold in the US.

According to the BRITS Certified Awards website, songs are awarded platinum status when they achieve 600,000 units of sales. The records are awarded the gold status for 400,000 units and silver for 200,000 units, but this would be based on Official Charts Company data.

Tems’ manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, shared a video on his Instagram story, where Tems and Wizkid were receiving the certification plaque. This comes after the duo performed “Essence” together for the first time on stage in the United States.

Wizkid told Tems, “I love you, baby girl, you’re a superstar. This is your time. This is your moment. This is your time and moment and the world needs to hear this because it is special to me.”

He continued, ”We have a Platinum record and I just want to say thank you to everyone involved in this from Tems to the producers, Legendary beats, these are my brothers from way back. I want to say we made a good beat.

”Thanks to the whole team for believing in the dreams from early, to my fans I appreciate you all and I pray God blesses all of you.”

The song becomes his second to be certified this year after his 2017 song, “Come Closer”, featuring Canadian rapper, Drake, was certified platinum and gold in the UK and Australia respectively in April.

In 2020, Wizkid became the first African artiste to be certified Gold in the United States, after 500,000 units of Come Closer were sold.

“Essence” was released in October 2020 as the 11th song on Made in Lagos, Wizkid’s fourth studio album.

Garnering the attention of American stars such as Snoop Dogg and Kylie Jenner, “Essence” became popular with the American audience earlier this year.

The remixed version of the song featured Canadian pop star, Justin Bieber, who tagged it as, ‘song of the summer.’