Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has debunked claims that former governor of Lagos State and Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu developed Lagos when he was the governor between 1999 – 2007.
The former Vice President gave the hint on Monday during the party’s Presidential Campaign Rally on Monday at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
Addressing mammoth crowd of party supporters, Atiku explained that most of the project Asiwaju was laying claims to were executed by the federal government. He said that the upcoming general elections is an opportunity for Lagosians to free themselves from the stranglehold of one family.
He said, “The Federal Government built the Second Mainland Bridge; the Federal Government rebuilt the old Carter Bridge, built the Third Mainland Bridge, rebuilt the Agege-Ikorodu motor road, rebuild Ikorodu road, and all the major roads connecting Island and Mainland. Now the AD, CAN and APC government has been telling you lies that they develop Lagos they are lying to you, therefore it is time for you the people of Lagos to liberate yourself from a family government to a people’s government led by Jandor”.
The Waziri Adamawa said that he will sell off most of the national assets including the three major refineries to generate the $10billion that he will inject into youth empowerment through financing of Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“On my own part if you elect me as your president I said and I promised by the grace of God that I am going to set aside $10 billion so that we can empower our young men and women in small medium enterprises. People were asking me where I am going to get the money. If I privatize the Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery, and Kaduna refinery I will get the money.
“So, let me also promise you that if you elect me, we are going to restructure this country. We will give your state and local government more power and resources. It is up to you to hold them responsible”.
He told electorates from Lagos to use the next election to free themselves from those that held down the state.
“The people of Lagos, it is high time you take your destiny into your own hands for your own future, not for the future of one family. For in the last 23 years, you are governed by one family. It is your right and your duty to take over that governance and hand it over to yourselves that is what the PDP stands for”.
National Chairman of the Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu told Lagos electorate that PDP will end excessive taxes imposed on them by the ruling party. He said that the party will also free the party from the family that has held them down. He said that liberating Lagos was like liberating Nigeria.
“We are going to liberate Lagos. We shall rescue Lagos from the hands of people who don’t want progress for Lagos people and for Nigerians. Liberating Lagos is like liberating Nigeria because Logos in an important part of Nigeria.
“Lagos is the biggest city in the country with a population of about 25million people which is more than most African countries and other countries in the world. It is a very rich state.
“In 1993, our leader Chief MKO Abiola said farewell to poverty was going to begin in Lagos. We have brought you hope, we have brought you a man who is experienced, who knows Lagos, who knows Nigerians, who is leading the crusade to rescue Lagos, end poverty, create jobs and make sure that you are not over tasked. With a president from the PDP, we shall make sure that it will be better for all of us”.
Also addressing the crowd, Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, Gov. Udom Emmanuel said that the economy of Lagos was very buoyant but has been destroyed by the ill administration of the ruling party.
“The economy of Lagos was more buoyant than the economy of so many West African countries put together. But today if you enter old Oregun, Ilepeju, do we still have those companies again? No. In those days of PDP from 1999, once you enter Lagos, you will see trains all over Lagos working, that showed that the economy was moving.
“Lagos is where money is made, Abuja is where money is spent, south-south is where money is produced. Under PDP we will restore the economy of Nigeria, all those factories that have left Lagos will come back. With Atiku Abubakar’s administration, the economy of Lagos will bounce back everything will come back to life”.
Former Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara who had disagreement with the APC over the Muslim-Muslim ticket and recently appointed Spokesperson of the Atiku Campaign council said that the administration of the PDP will usher in a new era of development for Lagosian in particular and the country at large.
