Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Jimi Agbaje has said that Lagos has nothing to fear under the opposition because the state has always done well under an opposition party.
Agbaje said this in a statement while reacting to All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s claims that Lagos will perform better if aligned with the centre.
Agbaje said, “What I know, however, is that Lagos has always made progress in spite of being in the opposition. In fact, if my memory serves me well, Lagos and the Federal Government have never been in the same party. Our development as a state is as a result of our ingenuity, tenacity and drive as a people and it is clear that Lagosians can see through this total botch of logic.
“In 1979 up till 1983, L.K Jakande’s achievements were under the UPN even though President Shagari was in the NPN. In 1992, Governor Otedola was in the NRC and the Social Democratic Party-led the Federal Government before the June 12 annulment. In 1999, Tinubu was in the AD while the Federal Government was in the PDP.
“From 2007-2011, Governor Fashola was in the Action Congress of Nigeria while President Umaru Yar’adua was in the PDP. Under Yar’Adua, the Federal Government released withheld funds to Lagos that had been blocked by his predecessor (Olusegun Obasanjo) despite being in a different party from Fashola. Our edge as a state has always been about our collective ability to stay ahead of the curve without favour from the Federal Government.”
Meanwhile Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has said voting for Ambode will ensure Lagos gets its due privileges from the Federal government.
Fashola while speaking at a rally in Agege said “The Saturday election provides an ample opportunity for Lagos State under an APC government to get all that it had been denied by the federal government for the past 16 years.”
He added that the PDP and its candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje lacks the know how to manage a mega city like Lagos.