NIGER DELTA PROFESSIONALS 33 Saint Andrew Sreet, Rumubiakani, Portharcourt We wish to commiserate with senator Tinubu on the demise of his mother some weeks back . Having done that we want to draw the attention of Nigerians to some very vital political matters. It is not our mission to attack individual or political parties but create awareness on the Nigerian electorate on matters that affect their lives, being the ‘major determinant’ in times of election. Our expose at this time is centered on senator Tinubu, his party ACN and the supposed newly born APC. The senator has often times accused the PDP government right from the time of ex-president Obasanjo till date. His argument has been that the PDP government has not made any meaning attempt to develop the nation, he has always criticized every government since 1999 of not having developmental policies. Now, let’s take a cursory look at the man as a governor. As a governor the major achievement and quite remarkable is his empowerment of area boys a notorious set of jobless and Indian hemp smoking gang all over bus stops in Lagos, a group who have ravaged the city since his time as a governor and till date and the LASMA group who more or less is a euphemism of area boys though in this case there are women involved and uniform . The sole purpose of these two groups is to raise money for the “governor” and not the state. While the former harasses and molests the commercial bus drivers and the Okada (motor cycles ) riders for money they did not work for, the latter is geared towards the harassment and intimidation of private car owners trailers and trucks at the slightest mistake. The governor arrogated so much powers to these dreg of society such that even the police can not arrest them. It will amaze Lagosians to know that the fares they pay to the commercial buses all over Lagos state are usually determined by these area boys who takes direct instruction/directives from their master the governor. It is worthy of note that these monies are not used for any form of development or provision of any type of essential amenities. These forceful charges are in all its facets illegal. There was no project that the Tinubu administration designed for the masses that ensured his rise to the government house and subsequently gave him the powers he so enjoys today. Rather than improve the lives of the people, his administration made things difficult for Lagosians. There was virtually no area that his administration touched the lives of the masses, the only set of people that gained immensely from Tinubu’s administration were the area boys and the senior areas boys he gave uniform (LASTMA). The people of Ayobo will not forget Senator Tinubu in a hurry rendering most of them homeless in the name of development that has not seen the light of day till date. The land the “state” recovered from this area and other areas of Lagos state that experienced this same hammer of destruction were hurried sold out to desperate individuals who wanted landed properties but without the certificate of occupancy and till date those who paid for these properties do not have access to them because there is no C of O. This is what we call government scam. Now let’s look at the ACN headed by this same Tinubu and their supposed developmental policies. Is the supposed development in some of the ACN states actually party oriented or individual’s love for total transformation of their respective states. If it were a party’s agenda, how come all the ACN states do not enjoy the same level of development as it is with Edo state which seem to be the only ACN state that development appears ubiquitous. When one consider states like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo but to mention a few you will understand that the development going on in Edo state is not a party affair but an individual love for his people. Governor Oshiomole may be an ACN governor but his ideals are not, he is a man who believe in the well being of his people, a man born to serve and not be to worshipped as Tinubu makes himself among his people a mini god. Aside Edo state the development in the other states above mentioned are incomparable as such developments creates as much impact in the grassroots as it does in the urban areas of these states. These developments cuts across all spheres, roads, education, health, provision of social amenities and what have you. Tinubu and his ACN had used Lagos state as a yard stick for development until the arrival of Gov. Oshiomole in Edo state. Many people have been hoodwinked by the personal development exercise carried out by these selfish leaders in the name of state development using the state money. Come to think of it, is Lagos state actually experiencing any form of development? Fourteen years of ACN leadership in the state, what can Tinubu and his “boy” show for it, planting of flowers on some of the major federal government roads? If yes, in which area is the development anchored, health, education, roads constructions, provision of social amenities such pipe borne water or where? So many people have ignorantly applauded and given kudos to ACN as having done well in Lagos state. A critical look at the state will suggest that the only meaningful development if you call that development to be accorded a state and a party for fourteen years is the beautification and reorganization of Oshodi area of the state. What many people are not aware of is the tuggery business encouraged by the state “area boys settlement”, so it is not out of place for the state to put so much efforts in ensuring the place is safe enough for people to go about their business without fear of intimidation and molestation. A very good business man must ensure that a good environment is created for business to flourish. And this is exactly what they have done. Now talking about roads construction and maintenance, the only major achievement of ACN and Tinubu in Lagos state is the Okota link bridge. The Lagos state government whose affairs are indirectly policed by Tinubu the ACN leader has often times used roads constructions in Lagos state as a basis for the development in the state. Now how many roads construction project outside the Okota link road has Tinubu and the ACN government been able to accomplished since 1999 when they took charge of the affairs of the state. The only area you can vividly feel the impact of the state is the Surulere axis, every major street in this area is properly tied, reason, this is the home area of the incumbent government where he will eventually retires when he finishes is tenure. The VI, LEKKI and IKOYI roads constructions are not the projects of the state but projects of self benefits. Tinubu using the incumbent concessed these roads out not to the benefit of the state but for their own personal benefits. Many people who foresaw the motive behind these concessions vehemently opposed this move both in the print and in the electronic media but using executive power they ignore these criticism that were objective in nature and went ahead to concess the roads. The people (masses in these areas) cried out but their voices where not loud enough to be heard. Once these roads are completed the state government and the parties chieftains use state funds to celebrate their opening and go on do deceive the masses that they have scored yet another point in the fulfillment of the party’s promises to them. The people are no longer deceived they know better now, we challenge the state government to prove us wrong by making public where the concession proceeds are going into. We want to clearly state here that there is no development at all in Lagos state. Lagos is the richest state in terms of internally generated revenue, internally Lagos generates not less than N40billion monthly yet you cannot see this reflect in the lives of the people. There is practically no where you go to in Lagos that you can see good roads, the roads in Lagos are so bad, the people are not deceived by the beautification of Surulere (a part of the mainland) and parts of Lagos Island. The people of Lagos deserve more than what we see in as much as the least seller/trader including the people hulking pure water pays one form of levy/charges or the other to the state government in the name of revenue generation yet the people have nothing to show for it. Go into the streets of Lagos you will understand better, our question is where are all the monies going? We remember with nostalgia the fight between Tinubu and the incumbent governor during his first tenure over personal revenue allocation and the subsequent threat to the second term ticket. The educational sector is in total shambles almost if not all the state owned primary and secondary schools lack good learning environment there are no recreational facilities, most of the structures are dilapidated and when you visit the privately owned schools you see a sharp difference from the state owned as every thing is well organized. Is the state saying individuals who run private schools are richer and better focused than the state government even with the over N40 billion they forcefully generates every month and the federal allocation they receive? Rather than make life easy for the people of the state with all the monies the state generates, Tinubu is busy building and buying sky scrappers all over Lagos and other major cities of the world with the other peoples money ensuring that his generation unborn has guaranteed future free from suffering. Let it be known to you sir, that if with all scheming you do not know that the future of your unborn generation is tied to how much you impart on the lives of the people who made you what you are today, then you are of all men most miserable. So if you want the future of your generation unborn guaranteed you have barely two years to affect the lives of the people you now lead, let every nook and cranny of Lagos state feel your impact just like you benefited from the benevolence of late Pa Awolowo who today can rest in peace having left behind a good legacy for his race. Don’t be deceived Lagosians and indeed Nigerians know who is the mask behind Lagos state and the entire south west for now. On this final note we members of the NIGER DELTA PROFESSIONALS sincerely and honestly advise Senator Bola Tinubu to stop making himself feel relevant in the social political setting of this our dear nation, people who cant run their homes shouldn’t come out for public recognition, Senator, 14 years have gone by since you have been in charge of the political setting of the south west, what impact have you created in the lives of your people how much have you developed these areas that you think if you champion the campaign for the formation of APC you will gain relevance? Let it be known to you without fear or favour that with a figure like you in the APC or any other political party, Nigeria need no other enemy. Your selfishness is equal to non in this nation. Set your house in order, politics is not all about rhetoric. We stand for good governance and will go any length to support and stand behind any Nigerian whose credentials and practical life style is impeccable. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:48:43 +0000
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