Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN yesterday urged Nigerians to reject the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during next month’s general election, saying that it has ruined the economy.
He said the PDP-led federal government has enslaved the country for 12 years, lamenting the breakdown of infrastructure, power outage and insecurity ravaging the land.
Fashola assessed the PDP administration at a rally in Ajegunle, Ajeromi Local Government Area, organised by the leaders and members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
At the rally, the state chairman, Otunba Dele Ajomale, presented flags to candidates for the elections. The flag bearers are Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West Senatorial Districgt), Taiwo Adenekan (House of Representatives), Kolawole Taiwo and Ladi Balogun (House of Assembly).
The party leader alerted the people of the area to an impending electoral battle to be fought and won, advising the members of the party to gird their loins.
Ajomale said: “We are fighting a common cause for the good of Nigeria. it is not about Lagos alone now. In Lagos, Fashola has done well and Lagosians are proud of his works. he will do better in his second term. Don’t waste your votes. we have no business with PDP and Labour Party. Don’t let them provoke you”.
Party leaders at the rally included Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan; Cardinal James Odunmbaku; Fashola’s running mate, Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire; Commissioner for Rural Development, Lanre Balogun; his Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye; Special Adviser on Rural Development, Paul Kalejaye,;wife of the governor, Abimbola; Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Joe Igbokwe; his deputy, Chief Funso Ologunde, and former Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello.
Others were Special Adviser on Transport, Kayode Opeifa; Igbo leader of ACN, Chief Chris Ekwilo; Chief Raheem Daramola; Chief Dele Fayemi; council chairmen, local ACN leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders.
On the stage entertaining the army of party supporters was the ace musician, Daddy Shokky, who pleaded with Fashola to construct a mini-stadium for the sport-loving people of Ajegunle and the environs.
The governor, who stormed the area around 12.45 pm, was giving his speech when the light went off. He campaigned in Yoruba, English and pidgin English, waving his broom with his left hand and displaying the progressive victory sign with two fingers of his right hand.
Fashola was welcomed to the podium by various posters, banners and singing train of women and youths eulogising his achievements in the local government in the last four years.
He told the crowd of supporters comprising the members of various ethnic groups, including Hausa, Ijaw, Isoko, Ibiobio, and Igbo, that the power outage attested to the under-performance of the inept PDP administration at the centre.
“I fulfilled my 2007 campaign promises to you, but the PDP has not fulfilled its promises to Nigerians. Federal roads are still bad. There is no water. Federal schools are collapsing. There is insecurity. The Niger Delta problem is there. There is no electricity and many people have died as a result of the ‘I pass my neighbour’ generator,” he complained.
Apparently elated at the huge turn-out, Fashola described the moment as a great day for democracy.
He paid tributes to some departed chieftains of the party and community leaders, praying for the repose of their souls.
The governor said that, although the federal government had neglected the area for too long, he had brought succour to them by starting off the construction of the abandoned Iganmu-Mile 11-Badagry Expressway, which is a federal road.
Fashola chided the PDP chieftains for attempting to buy voter cards from prospective voters, advising Lagosians to reject the N2,500 offered for each card.
“You should be vigilant. Don’t fight. But if they provoke you, defend yourself. On the eve of the election, prepare well. Get your food ready and take it to the polling booths. We will repeat this process three times during the elections.
“After voting for us, we will work for you for four years in the rain, in the sun, in the morning, aftermoon and night. This election is an election that must herald a good future for Lagosians,” he added.
Turning to the Igbo at the rally, he sympathised with them for their inability to travel home during the last Christman and New Year festivals because of bad roads and kidnappings.
