The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has said President Goodluck Jonathan’s doctorate degree and Vice President Namadi Sambo’s degree in architecture have not reflected positively in their style of governance. The governor said this as the Ikorodu rally of the All Progressives Congress. He said the standard of living and security of Nigerians had worsened since Jonathan took over power despite being the first doctorate degree holder to become President of Nigeria. Fashola said, “When the President, a PhD holder, assumed office, rather than improve the standard of living of the citizens, we were having regression. His vice is an architect but he cannot construct roads. “But it is saddening that a lawyer is the Commissioner for Works in Edo State and he has constructed several roads. In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Works is an architect and he has built several roads. “Let us ask Vice President Sambo what has he done for the nation. All he (Sambo) could do was to inform the President that people are leaving Lagos because of the state tax regime. And I want everyone to ask the vice president if the number of vehicles coming into Lagos has reduced.” Fashola also accused the Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, of telling lies about his government. The governor warned the people of the state not to believe Agbaje’s statements. Agbaje had accused the APC- led state government of underfunding the education sector during a governorship debate on Thursday. Reacting to the allegation, however, Fashola said, “I have maintained that you should not vote for someone with inexperience. The PDP governorship candidate in Lagos is a pharmacist that does not know anything about the running of government. Anytime he speaks, he shows his ignorance. “He says that this government spends only three percent of the state budget on education. I’m surprised at his ignorance because in my last budget presentation, the budget for education was increased from 15 percent to 16 percent. He should get his facts right. “This is why whenever he says something contrary to the facts on ground, I will respond. He has consistently shown that he is inexperienced and Lagos cannot be left in the hands of inexperienced people.” Fashola said the PDP-led Federal Government had ruined the nation’s economy and would also destroy the economy of the state if it took over. He said the governorship candidate of the APC, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was a better candidate as he was responsible for restructuring the state’s finances when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld billions of naira belonging to the state for several months. He said, “When I became governor of Lagos State in 2007, the exchange rate was N120 to one dollar, but now the exchange rate is N195 to one dollar. We used to borrow money from banks at the interest rate of 10 per cent, now the interest rate has risen to 24 per cent. “Not only that, the government has increased import duties of cars to 70 per cent. It is only waiting for the elections to be over to begin implementation. Is that how the PDP government plans to improve the economy? “The PDP prevented us from having more local governments that were meant to bring development closer to the grassroots. They tried to frustrate us, and when they seized the money belonging local governments in Lagos, it was Akinwumi Ambode that made sure that Lagos state did not suffer. “He was the one in charge of the finances because he was the accountant general and he made sure everything worked smoothly. I and Osinbajo were in the legal team that were fighting for the creation of more local governments.”
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:33:46 +0000
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