Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, according to Thisday, said on Tuesday that doling out of dollars by President Goodluck Jonathan to win some stakeholders in the South-west would not change his records of performance.
He, also, handed over nine roads to communities in Maidan-Aina-Agiliti area of Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Government Area, which he said, accumulated to 3.1 kilometres with a bridge, service duct, walkways and streetlights.
Fashola urged Nigerians to cast their votes for incumbent politicians based on their track records and not on promises while handing over a network of nine roads in Kosofe Local Government Area.
He added that the incumbent candidates in the forthcoming election had enough time to prove their mettle when they were in office, pointing out that coming around “to be making fresh promises to the electorates is deceptive.”
He urged Lagos residents “to reject politicians doling out foreign currencies and other incentives,” which he said, was being distributed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “to induce the electorates in its desperation to win the elections.
“If you collect dollars, know that you have collected your security, your roads and your infrastructure. It is demeaning, degrading and insulting that anyone who has made promises to come back and offer you money. Tell them your dignity and your vote cannot be bought by naira or dollars.”
Fashola also inaugurated 18 classroom blocks in Aiyedire Ajibola Senior High School, in Ketu area of the state said the road project was an evidence of his government’s slum regeneration and urban renewal plan.
He said whoever had visited the area before the construction would understand why the whole residents had turned up “to witness the commissioning. I was here in 2007 and this place was taken over by flood after a downpour.
“The only source of movement from Kosofe to Maidan is by canoe. You were all very unhappy and asked for culvert and jetty. I said no, since you pay your taxes, I promised to give you a first-class bridge and you have it today. This is for me the value of democracy, where you can hold politicians accountable for their promises.”
On the new classroom, Fashola said the state government that must discharge its responsibility must do so on the welfare of its children, adding that they must be taught,” survival skills, build facilities and prepare them for what they want to do in life.”
Fashola lauded the teachers in the state, noting that he would not have been where he was today without teachers, saying in providing facilities needed in the educational sector the state government “has respond to the issues of the teachers.
“If you work in a place where you cannot be proud to invite their children to come and visit you, then there is a problem. It elevates teaching, self-esteem and pride of a teacher to say boldly that he is a teacher.
“Every school will get grant for annual maintenance every year. All the money that would have been used to build schools and infrastructure, they are sharing it in dollars. Remember that while somebody brought dollar at the last minute, remember somebody has been under the sun for eight years.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Kosofe Local Government Area, Afolabi Bamise thanked the state government for the gigantic project and promised to collaborate with the ministry of works and infrastructure for proper maintenance of the roads.
