Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has come under scrutiny for reportedly abandoning his official duties to attend a grand birthday celebration in Grenada.
The event, marking the 50th birthday of Abuja-based businesswoman Aisha Achimugu, took place at the exclusive Calivigny Island, known for its opulence and high costs.
Sources indicate that Governor Sanwo-Olu, who left Nigeria on January 17, joined the festivities on January 18, remaining in Grenada until January 23.
While the Mandilas building in Lagos burned on January 21, and citizens faced economic hardships and insecurity, the governor reveled at a party at Calivigny Island, an 80-acre private and exquisite location that costs about $132,000 per night.
Aisha Achimugu, the celebrant, reportedly spared no expense in renting the Calivigny Island for a week, accompanied by events at the Silversand Grenada resort.
The celebration featured extravagant wardrobes, high-end jewelry, and performances by international and local artists, including Kenny G, Waje, Flavour, and Adekunle Gold.
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During the week-long party, Mrs Achimugu, a widow who lost her husband to Coronavirus in 2020, is said to have changed clothes at least 30 times, with each dress said to cost thousands of dollars.
Most of the time, she was decked in very expensive diamond jewelry, wore designer shoes and carried Hermes crocodile-leather handbags, each said to cost between $50,000 and $80,000. One of the numerous parties took place aboard the Silver Angel, a Yacht sailing on the Caribbean sea under the flag of the United Kingdom.
Moreover, the official disc jockey for the event, David Reeves was seen at the end of the party displaying bundles of crisp U.S. Dollars (estimated to be up to $50,000) and saying excitedly, “who wan help you no go stress you”. Some of the musicians were sprayed with dollars as they performed.
One attendee told PREMIUM TIMES that at the birthday, “exotic wines, expensive but delicious food, crisp dollars and obscene opulence were on display”. The source estimated the event to have cost the organisers billions of naira to organise.
“We basically shut down Grenada and the citizens of that country knew that Nigerians were in town, they knew the eagles had landed,” the source anonymously stated.
“But what even surprised me the most was seeing Governor Sanwo-Olu at the event. Is he not sensitive to the mood of the Nigerian nation? What was he doing there as a public figure?”.
However, Questions surrounding Governor Sanwo-Olu’s absence from his leadership role during a crucial period remain unanswered. Additionally, the funding of the governor’s trip and stay in Grenada remains unclear. Despite attempts to reach him for comment, the governor did not respond to calls or messages.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.