Wednesday, 21 August 2013

CACOL, others call for Fashola’s probe over corruption



LAGOS State Governor Mr.Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was the boot of attacks Wednesday in Lagos.
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) again has urged the State Government to defend itself over the massive allegations of corruption against it.
It was at the Annual General Convention and public presentation of a book: Lagos Open Parliament: The True State of Lagos by Lagosians. The book is explained by the authors and publishers as a platform used by CACOL and People’s Action for Democracy (PAD) to gather and disseminate information on issues of public concerning Lagos State.
The authors’ purpose is to bring to limelight fact and figures on the true position of Lagos State, including suffering from bad governance.
In his speech, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr Debo Adeniran, urged the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to render his administration's stewardship so far to the people of the state. Adeniran said CACOL will not rest its campaign until Fashola gives account of corruptions. He added that CACOL has evidence to prove there is massive corruption by Lagos State government.
‘‘As corruption continues to permeates every sector of Fashola administration in Lagos State, noteworthy is the construction of Ramp from Ozumba Mbadiwe to Falomo Bridge at about N2bn and the Lekki Cable Bridge at N29bn. Granted that the Ozumba’s Ramp is useful unlike the Lekki Cable Bridge, our check with those who should know show that the Ramp is less than N200m whereas the Cable Bridge was cost at N400m.’’
He said that the governor should be accountable to the people that voted him to power.

‘‘All we are asking from the governor Fashola is to come up with an address on how much the state had generated so far and how much they are spending in all this bogus projects.

‘‘He should let the public know how much has been spent so that they can crosscheck with service providers to be sure the appropriated money is judiciously spent,’’ Adeniran said.
He said that the anti-graft agency should investigate corruption in the state, adding,‘‘the allegations by other prominent Lagosians corroborated our stand on the administration of Fashola.’’
‘‘It is not because CACOL is in alliance with any individual or political party, but it is a point of vindication for our earlier call that Fashola's administration be probed,’’ he said.
‘‘When the state House of Assembly wanted to investigate the administration, the governor went to court to obtain injunction from being investigated.
‘‘If the administration is clean from corruption, then, it should not be afraid of being investigated.

‘‘As if that was not enough, the governor also gagged members of his cabinet from speaking to the media.
Waxing poetically, Adeniran said that since Fashola took over power, the use of massive propaganda by his administration to arm-twist the people in believing in dividends of democracy through the provision of non-existent infrastructural facilities like good roads, housing, education, healthcare system, transport system and other social services has exposed all the lies masses have lived with and series of unfulfilled promises made.
 At the event was the wife of late Human Rights activists, Mrs Ganiyat Fawehmi, Chief Mrs Onitiri Abiola, students as well as several members of the civil society groups.
  Adeniran said that the governor should be accountable to the people that voted him to power.



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