We have been watching with amusement and even some happiness the various attempts to destroy our names, our images and our reputations by the several claims and counter claims of the so-called "Concerned Professionals" Group. It is
clear that these people are now getting scared as a result of the facts that we have brought out about the way Governor Babatunde Fashola has been running Lagos State.We have placed before the good people of Lagos a host of allegations against Governor Fashola but rather than urge their Super-Performing Governor to answer to our allegations, this faceless group has continued to throw brick bats at us and calling us names, saying we are faceless, instigating thousands of people to rally against the Lagos State House of Assembly, and saying we are not taxpayers or true sons of the soil.
We want to assure all our teeming supporters and all those that have sent us messages of solidarity for the good work that we are doing that we will not be deterred by these detractors. We are true sons of Lagos and we challenge anybody to bring forward information to the contrary. We are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of Lagos and we challenge anybody to bring forward information to the contrary. After all, if we don't pay our taxes, government can charge and eventually jail us.
The facts are there, let Governor Fashola answer to them. At the proper time of our choosing, we will distribute information about some of the allegations we have made. We will not be hoodwinked by the opposition to rush and release this information at this time. They are calling for us to release the facts that we have but we are wise to their tactics. They want us to release all of our ammunition now so that they will know all that we know. We have put all our facts out in the public domain. Let the Lagos State House of Assembly go and do their homework. We don't need to do it for them.
Again, the facts are there, despite what the so-called Concerned Professionals may say. In our first advertorial, we acknowledged the heavy investments in roads and other infrastructure made by the BRF administration, but several questions remain fuzzy. Did Lagos State under Governor Fashola give N250 million to the Nigerian Bar Association? Ok, they say he didn;t "give" it to the NBA but he "spent" it to promote business tourism in Lagos but to us, this is two sides of the same coin. We said the BRF government spent N400 million out of the State Security Trust Fund, Concerned Professionals say that most of the fund are contributions and donations received from private companies and organisations and not state money. Are these people from Lagos at all? They say crime in Lagos State is down 78%, what about the remaining 22%?
What of the almost N2 billion spent on infrastructure in roads and drainage in Ikorodu General Hospital? No answer!When we talk about accountability and probity in governance, they talk and talk about Alpha Beta Consortium and allege that it is Aiswaju Bola Tinubu's company. We are not holding brief for Asiwaju but every Nigerian has a right to own shares in any company in Nigeria and abroad. Must Asiwaju be denied his right because of politics? Anyway, even a blind man can see what Alpha Beta is doing for Lagos State in the area of revenue generation.
When we said the BRF government is spending huge sums of money on the planting of trees and flowers in a state where there is no water, BRF rushed to commission 3 mini-water works. But he then promised another 20. You see, he is already reacting to our allegations. Why didn't he build all 20 at the same time?Or are they denying that Olowolafe receives up to 70% of all Lagos government contracts? We have our evidence but we will keep our powder dry for now.There are too many instances of this type of corruption that this government is now known for all over the world. This is our first salvo, let them answer this one first, then we will come out with some more. Facts are sacred. Let nobody be deceived about our resolve to follow this matter to the end. And, for the benefit of our many detractors, and the thousands of people that BRF rented to come on a solidarity march for him, we want it to be known by all and sundry that we are the True Face of Lagos and we speak for millions of voiceless Lagosians.
For a long time, we have been suspicious of the Lagos State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and their ability to perform their oversight functions but recent actions have given us cause to smile that these are honourable men and women. Only recently on 18th November 2009, the Honurable Speaker warned BRF against his favourite pastime: rent-a-crowd praise singers. It took this courageous Speaker to let the world know that the Governors of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Gombe States are performing even better than the so called Super-Performer Babatunde Fashola. Speaker Ikuforiji is on our side, the side of the people. In fact, after our first advertorial published in Punch newspaper of 28th January, we received several calls from members of the House of Assembly like the Speaker, Honourable Ikuforiji, Honurable Omowunmi-Edet and Honourable Onibiyo Adelabu, to mention but a few, and they were very impressed and commended our doggedness. In private and in public these men and woman have assured us that they will do the right thing for the people of Lagos.
Again, Concerned Professionals are accusing us of playing the script of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu notwithstanding that we have even accused him of shielding all the financial recklessness of Governor Fashola. Everyone in the whole world knows the kind of action, people-oriented government that Asiwaju ran for 8 years as governor of Lagos. In fact, if it is possible, we would like to have him back as governor now instead of the thieving and reckless governor we now have. We are sure that Asiwaju now regrets his choice of BRF for governor. We know him, and we know he does not associate with the type of behaviour Fashola has been displaying. So, we are confident that even the Lion of Bourdillon is on our side in this matter. We are confident of this because Asiwaju stalwarts Like Dele Alake and Tunji Bello are with us on this our pursuit of excellence in public service in Lagos State.
Our support is from all over the state. Apart from those mentioned above, we have enlisted support from religious and political leaders, students, marketwomen, artisans etc.. Babatunde Fashola is not as popular as he thinks. In fact, even inside his very Executive Cabinet, we have the full support and backing of two Honourable Commissioners. These men are the true heroes of Lagos. At the appropriate time, we will name them and let you all thank them. Even the judiciary is not left out. We are confident that the Honurable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande, is on our side in this crusade. Tunde Fashola is going to get the surprise of his life. Finally, as we have always said, this matter is not a personal matter and it is not a Family Affair to be swept under the carpet. The people of Lagos State think that they are enjoying good governance now that they have never seen before in their lives but little do they know that it can be even better than this - if only BRF and his cohorts can be brought to book. For those crying about impeachment, impeachment, impeachment, we have only two words to say them: accountability and probity.
So what if they House of Assembly investigates Governor Fashola, it is their constitutional duty. So what if they bring impeachment proceedings against Governor Fashola, has he not done enough harm in Lagos State already? Impeachment is certain for Tunde Fashola. It is time for a true son-of-the soil governor to come out and lead Lagos State properly. Even in his cabinet, we can point to at least 2 that are worthy.
E JOO, E MA KI WON BA EKO JE O!
THE TRUE FACE OF LAGOS.
KASALI MARTINS ESQ.
DR. TUNDE GEORGE \
