The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State has scored Governor Akinwunmi Ambode 10 per cent for his performance in the last six months due to the rate of robbery and gridlock. How do you respond to this?
The PDP in Lagos State is still suffering from the effect of the defeat it suffered in Lagos during the elections. They never believed they would lose to that extent. They thought that politics of tribalism and the money spent by former President Goodluck Jonathan would help them but it did not and that is why I am not surprised by what they are saying. They are frustrated. They have lost power at the centre and so there is no money again. The only way to vent their anger is to continue to attack Ambode but I doubt if that will help them.
A lot is going on in Lagos and if you are not a deep thinker, you might not understand what is going on. Lagos has always had a traffic problem since the 1960s. I remember it became an issue during former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration and Fashola presented photographs of Lagos traffic of the 1960s and what the leaders were saying at the time. So, it’s a recurring decimal and it is understandable because Lagos is the place where every youth runs to after graduation. It is the only viable economy in Nigeria.
I remember that for several years, Fashola attempted to repair the road leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport but the Federal Government refused to allow him to do so but we thank God that the APC now controls the Federal Government so we have a lot to gain from this. Ambode has been working on traffic and that was why he sacked the heads of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. We noticed that the moment the Treasury Single Account was introduced in Lagos, some agencies of government were not happy about it, including LASTMA. I am a grass roots person and I can tell you that these people threatened to punish the government and so they (LASTMA) relaxed because they were not ready for the changes he introduced.
They,therefore, decided to sabotage the government by looking the other way but the governor insisted that they did their work. Things have returned to normal now. Three things are dear to the governor: Job creation, security and construction of rural and inner roads. If you go round Lagos, you will see that the state is now a huge construction site. About 114 roads are being constructed simultaneously and he is trying to complete them before the new year but we need Federal Government’s assistance in Lagos State for the creation of new roads, including the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge because if not, the traffic situation would worsen. Ambode has spent less than eight months out of 48 months. There is a saying that if one has five hours to cut a tree, one would spend one hour sharpening the axe. You can see the helicopters and state-of-the-art security equipment he inaugurated recently.
Ambode would shock Lagosians. He has a grasp of what is going on. Just give him time. He has been in the system for 27 years.
The Economist magazine described Ambode as being too lenient with law enforcement and that Lagos is slowly collapsing under him.
The governor tried to give governance a humane face but people took advantage of the situation. The governor told LASTMA to stop carrying out illegal arrests in order to curb corruption but the enforcement is back. Cars are now being impounded for taking the BRT lanes. The report of the Economist was too hasty because the governor has not spent a year. The report is unbecoming of such a revered magazine.
Fashola is now the Minister of Power, Works and Housing. However, the PDP says there is nothing for Lagosians to be excited about. Will Lagos benefit from Fashola?
President Muhammadu Buhari handed three ministries to the person he trusts the most. Imo, Enugu, Rivers State and many others are now using the template of Lagos State for development. Fashola has been recognised across the world for his success. You will see true transformation with Fashola. The only challenge will be funding.
But the Federal Government owes Lagos over N51bn and has so far done nothing in the state
Let me start by saying that we met Nigeria in a financial mess. The country was plundered and looted by the PDP. The PDP ate Nigeria’s flesh and when the treasury was almost empty, we won. Even after we won, there was still last-minute stealing. Paucity of funds is a problem but Buhari has said some people are already returning looted funds. We are cutting cost of governance and plugging holes. At the end of the day we will have funds.
Copyright PUNCH.
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