Buhari Visits Oba Akiolu, Promises To Compensate Lagos Over FG Neglect

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, January 30th, 2015

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari was at the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu’s palace in Lagos Island on Friday where he promised the compensate Lagos State over long period of neglect as the nation’s former capital.

Buhari was accompanied by his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, National leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, APC National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, APC ‎gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode; former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki and others.

According to him, the federal government has abandoned Lagos despite its huge economic advantage, however assuring that if voted to power, he will ensure adequate compensation for the state.

“In Lagos state, all the responsibilities have been left to the state government. The state was left with enormous decayed infrastructure which should have been for their own interest. Lagos state has been keeping and maintaining them, but the federal government hasn’t been sympathetic enough to take the responsibility of what they left behind.

“We assure you that the APC will study this situation and make as much compensation as possible to Lagos State,” he said, adding that he would also fight insecurity, economic imbalance and unparalleled corruption.

He said these three challenges have denied Nigeria the opportunity to improve other social services like education and healthcare.

Buhari added that infrastructure ‎is another factor that “helps to bring industries back, employment of goods and services. APC has studied these problems in depth and priority is on security. We just have to get the security of this country right so that people can come out day and night and work hard to earn a living and correct the ills of the society.”

He said he would fight unemployment through mechanised innovations in farming, fishing and mining.

“On the issue of industry, you know without power, Nigerian entrepreneurs cannot establish businesses or break even. For that reason, the money spent on power between 1999 till now is more than $20 billion but the amount of megawatts has hardly changed, it’s still between 3000 to 4000 megawatts. Now this lack of accountability has acted very negatively ‎on the economy and the security of the country.

“On the question of roads, we will try and complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Illorin. This is the axis which is heavily used. What will complement that is to make the Nigeria railway efficient. We will save Nigeria Railways, we will save Nigeria Airways and Nigeria Shipping line. A lot of noise is being made about Nigeria railway, but there is nothing on ground to show for it.

“Kabiyesi, these are some of the problems identified by the APC, as I said insecurity, economy and corruption. The monies we realise from corruption will be adequately employed to make sure education is improved. One of the legacies we can leave for this generation is good education, if that is done, most people will look after themselves,” he stated.