The Chairman of the People Democratic party in Lagos State, Otunba
Segun Adewale has condemned in strong term statement that the PDP will
not be allowed to win a single position at the forthcoming Local
Government polls credited to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described it
as undemocratic and misrepresentation of the wishes of Lagosians.
In
a statement made available to Journalists in his office, Adewale said
the All Progressives Congress (APC) through Tinubu has simply declared
Lagos electorates irrelevant in the coming election. "Our attention has
been drawn to a statement credited to the National leader of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We view this statement as
a declaration of result ahead of the elections. It also goes to confirm
that the APC under his leadership has no regard for the electorates and
may have concluded arrangements to manipulate the outcome of the
election through their agents at LASIEC."
It
will be recalled that last week, the PDP Chairman alleged a grand
conspiracy to rig the forthcoming Local Government polls in favour of
the APC. "The statement by Tinubu is a confirmation of my allegation
that the APC has concluded arrangements to rig the polls using some
elements in LASIEC and some disgruntled PDP members"
The
PDP Chairman insisted that his party will enjoy a landslide victory at
that polls. "Contrary to Tinubu's declaration that our esteemed party
will not win any elective position at the forthcoming local council
elections, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP will not only win in our
traditional catchment areas, we will win all the available positions by
popular vote."
Adewale listed a number of reasons why the electorates prefer the PDP at the Lagos grassroots.
1.
The All Progressives Congress, APC at the Federal and State levels have
not been able to deliver on the 2015 promise of "Change". In fact, all
promises were cancelled once elected. Lagosians are weary of voting
another government representing a cancellation of all promises at the
local government level.
2. Over 74 government
agencies established in Lagos are created to extort money from the
citizens rather than the provision of social economic infrastructure or
services, examples include the LASEPA, LASTMA, LAWMA, LASRAB, ALHA etc.
Lagosians hardly feel any government support in any area of their life
presently. From private schools, to private roads, private electricity,
our garbage is quantified and paid for, private bore holes etc. Even the
bore hole needs government permission and payment, forcing our people
to pay for government inability to provide basic pipe borne water.
Lagosians
are eager to experience freedom, they want a responsive government at
the grassroots. Lagosians want to feel the impacts of the monthly N26
billion IGR mostly through the Local Government.
3.
The Lekki toll gate is one that we all cannot forget in a hurry too:
How can a sincere govt lock up her citizens for the purpose of fleecing
them? This is a million-dollar question that Lagos residents will use
the opportunity of the coming LG polls to respond to.
4.
The frequent demolition of landmarks and or popular shops at the
detriment of the poor and down trodden for the purpose of constructing
unaffordable malls for the few rich is another reason for the eminent
victory of the PDP. A recent demolition in Ikorodo where down trodden
petty traders lost millions of Naira to government rascality is a case
study.
5. The deliberate discrimination and
victimization of the South South and or South East citizens in Lagos for
daring to choose which candidate they want to support, forgetting that
they contribute immensely to the GDP if the state. They also pay taxes
to the state amongst others.
6. Lagos State, a
state that currently generates over N36billion monthly as internal
revenue has the highest domestic debt among all 36 states and also has
the highest foreign debt as at December 31, 2016, according to the Debt
Management Office. Lagos state topped the list of foreign indebted
states with a total of $1.380 billion foreign debt (about N500billion)
The
question Lagosians must answer at this polls from this information is
if the infrastructural development in the State, especially at the
grassroots level justifies this huge debt and tremendous IGR accruing
monthly to our government.
Adewale concluded by
re-emphasizing his confidence that the good people of Lagos have
resolved to make a loud statement against the mismanagement of their
commonwealth at the LG polls. "If given the opportunity, the PDP will
reverse the tide and make governance at the LG level accountable,
compassionate and responsible to the people and not to the dictate
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu."
Otunba Segun Adewale
Chairman, Lagos State PDP
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