Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has described Vice President Namadi Sambo’s comment that people are running away from Lagos because of heavy taxation by the state government as a display of ignorance and ‘diabolical.
Fashola, who spoke at an end of the year news conference at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday said if it was true that Sambo made that statement, it was simply a display of ignorance and that such a statement should not come from someone who is the Chairman of the National Economic Council, NEC.
“I sincerely want to believe that the vice president was misquoted. If it was true, it was a display of ignorance because how did he justify the perception that people are leaving Lagos? Is the VAT collected from Lagos being reduced compared to other states?
“Is the air traffic into Lagos reducing? Or have you seen a significant reduction in Lagos traffic? Has the water demand in Lagos reduced? Or has the demand for hospital services reduced? More hotels are being built in Lagos. Companies are licensing and operating in Lagos.
“Displaced persons from other parts of the federation are moving to Lagos. It is very grave statement to make. That is why I hope he was misquoted because that is the Chairman of the National Economic Council,” he stated.
According to Fashola, “if he misunderstands what is happening in the economic capital of the country, it may be a revealing index into their understanding of the country’s economy. It may also confirm to you some of the things you heard from the president that he received contradictory advice.
“Maybe, this is part of it. That is a very dangerous statement to make. It is either ignorant or diabolical. Either way, it is not good because it tells you why the economy is not functioning if the Chairman of National Economic Council made such statement.”
The governor also wrote off the challenge posed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, saying he is no threat to the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode.
“On Jimi Agbaje, he is not a threat to us. Let’s go and check the result of the 2011 election. He got three percent of the vote cast. Even his party, we have defeated PDP in all election done them since 1999.
“Ambode is going to defeat Agbaje with your support. This is not the place to experiment; one needs a lot of experience to achieve what we have done in Lagos. When you look at what their party has done with the country, for instance, there are missing funds, non-functioning rail, epileptic power supply and others, do you want that to happen in Lagos?” He asked.
On the 2015 election, Fashola said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was not prepare for the election, which he said, led to the shoddy distribution of the Permanent Voters Card, PVC.
The governor said the real head of INEC should be a statistician and not a Professor, academics and others, saying that “it is not about theory, it is about practical. People who should also do this job should be those who have managed distribution activities in the country. It is not a judicial work but logistics.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Fashiola is losing it gradually. Why is he so offensive these days?
ReplyDeletei wonder Ooooooooh
ReplyDeleteFashola undisputed heavyweight champ. When he spits pdp goes mum.
ReplyDeleteFashola has since lost it. He should come off his high horse with this his "know it all mentality" and "holier than thou" posture. The erroneous and over hyped media and public perception that he has done well has got to his head. Jimi Agbaje will shock them in 2015.
ReplyDeleteIts you who has lost it friend. What Sambo said was so unintelligent of a vice president and head of economic council. If making unproven statements at that level is wise to you then...
Deletednt mind dis fashola.media hyping has got into his head.d v.p
ReplyDeletespoke d truth.y does it offend.enuf of dis APC noice makers.agbaje wil shock uvin lagos.
Is that been offensive? He's trying to educate your brain and sweep off sambojolantern way of thinking and u call it offensive? @ anonymous 12:21 pls visit Yaba left abeg.
ReplyDeleteFashola remains our hero in Lagos...why should Sambo make such statements without having concrete evidence? Do you expect him to keep mute for PDP when PDP is also looking for an avenue to criticize APC at the slightest opportunities they get. This is politics jare.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1,2,3 and Ikman, What has Fashola said that is incorrect from above. he has asked how the VP came to the conclusion that people are leaving Lagos because of Taxes. What metrices were used?.
ReplyDeletei smell bad belle, yeye dey smell
Analysis and criticism should be done wholistically. I see no wrong in what Fashola has said. Let d Vice President substantiate his statement if only he made such as being credited to him.
ReplyDeleteLeave them alone, all these PDP apologists. They never face the issues since they are not intelligent enough to, so they resort to abuse. Fashola has made very solid points, and instead of countering this they respond with 'he has lost it'.
ReplyDeleteHave you APC mongers watch Buhari evil during Military Regime , pls go watch it everything is open there and stop braking your mouth before you start running for your life -enough of this evil in this country.
DeleteExactly most people are too lazy to think thru the facts they just respond on emotions. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteEvery comment I see in support of PDP always show shallow thinking just like most of PDP and GEJs shallow statements.
ReplyDeleteSambo made a shallow statement that people are leaving Lagos how? With all this traffick we see everyday? He talked about heavy taxation...so how does he want the state to generate IGR...o he wants Lagos state to come like other states waiting for federal allocation abi? Never again!!!!
Nowadays whenever I hear PDP my mind goes shallow thinkers.
Let Sambo defend himself with evidence. We are more knowledge to accept empty statements made by this empty leader
ReplyDeleteNigerian & Lagosian should rise up from slumber and vote out slavery in their mist . APC has enslave Lagosians for 8yrs to pay high tax for Fashola to fund APC . PDP has come to remove heavy taxes from Nigerian vote PDP and get out of slavery, Lagosians must be free again.
ReplyDelete