Fashola tackles Dosunmu, Randle at debate

Aspat between Governor Babatunde Fashola and Chief JK Randle was the highlight of the debate by Lagos State governorship candidates organised by Channels Television last night.

Accusation of disobedience of the court order which bars Dr. Ade Dosunmu from parading himself as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate was also raised at the debate co hosted by Thisday and held at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos Island, before a live audience.I’m surprised that Dr. Dosunmu is here because I know there is a court order restraining him from parading himself,” Fashola said but Dosunmu said neither he nor his party had been served any court order to that effect.

The ACN standard bearer  said Dosunmu left Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) where as Managing Director he spent N150,000 daily to rent a generating set for three years .

But Dosunmu said he did not understand what the governor was saying, adding that both the governor and himself once applied to work with the National Productivity Centre. But Fashola said Dosunmu was lying to Lagosians as he never applied to work in any public corporation until he joined the government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Chief of Staff.  Fashola, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, accused Randle, the 67-year-old candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) of building his house on the drainage system contrary to the environmental laws of the state,  after Randle accused the governor of being inaccessible. 

Two other candidates, Yomi Tokoya of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Dr Adegbola Dominic of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), also participated in the debate. 

 Fashola said he will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Lagosians, saying  investments in the hospitality business and in other areas are  examples of investors’ confidence in the policies of his government.  He said Mastercard and TNS came into the state in the last two months. 

Fashola sais he had built 5,000 houses which Dosunmu faulted as elitist. He said he would bring his wide experience in public service to bear if elected while eliminating multiple taxation.  He said he would use the resources of the state more prudently.

But  Fashola said he had no problem with the age of Randle and Dosunmu “but with the age of their ideas.”

Fashola faulted the accusation of financial impropriety against his government by Randle who re echoed the issues raised by the Face of Lagos group, saying the “only collateral” he brought into government was his integrity. Randle equally defended his integrity and declined to shake hands with Fashola after the debate.