Fashola scores self high, says critics are cynics
By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Mosur Olowoopejo
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has debunked critics’ claim of his administration being elitist saying, “one has to distinguish between cynics and critics who can never see anything good.”
It will be recalled that former minister and gubernatorial aspirant in the forth coming 2011 election in Lagos State under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Demola Seriki, in a television programme described Fashola’s administration as being elitist.
Seriki added that the present administration concentrate on developing more on the Lagos Island and Ikoyi rather than the other parts of the state.
Governor Fashola spoke Wednesday at Marina after an inspection tour of on-going construction works at New Oyingbo Market, the New Tejuosho Market, Ishaga Road, Idi Araba Road, Agiliti and Maidan, Iyana-Ipaja-Idimu Road, Ikotun Road and Obalende.
Fashola said: “If they cannot see anything they need to get ‘Jigi Bola’ to be able to see because even those who do not see can feel the impact of what we are doing here.
“Whether you disbelieve what I say, you cannot disbelieve what we have done and it is the implementation of the manifesto of the people-oriented party— the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.”
His words “Your so-called chieftains are too removed from their people. He was a former Minister who spent too much time in Abuja so I think on his return he missed his way around and has become disconnected.”
He said “Does he live with the elites in Surulere where I am tarring the road to his house. Is the Oyingbo Market in Lagos Island or Ikoyi, Is Tejuosho Market in Ikoyi?. We went to Agiliti, has he ever been there. He spent too much time in Abuja and missed his way because of all the renewal going on. Some don’t even know what part they are in. They are far too removed. I don’t bother my head about such people.
“As a Minister, what did he do for the State where he supposedly represent. We would not have put him forward as our own candidate. That is the quality of what we get from the party developing poverty. That is not Lagos best foot forward”, the governor added.
He noted that rather than engage in armchair criticism this is a time for debate of issues, adding that the ACN Government in Lagos is ready to present its scorecard and challenged the Peoples Democratic Party at the national level to come forward and present its scorecard, declaring: “We are waiting for them, the harder they speak, the bigger that they will fall”.
Governor Fashola also advised the people to continue to live in peace, adding that it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that development programmes can be initiated by the Government.
He urged them to refuse calls on them by some disgruntled politicians to engage in violence to settle differences, saying that they should ask such politicians to allow their biological children to take the lead during such orgies of violence.
He said the provision of the various social amenities did not come as an accident but is a result of the trust reposed in the present administration by the people in 2007, promising that more are on the way.
He urged the people and all those who are of voting age to troop out en-masse from January 15 next year, to register so that they would be able to vote and choose leaders of their choice.
