Governor Ambode, who spoke
at the Fourth Quarter, 2017 Town Hall Meeting, the 9th in the series, held at
the SUBEB Proposed Permanent Site in Kosofe Local Government, said the clamour
across the country for restructuring was not out of place as the current
political structure was seriously hindering Nigeria’s development.
Lagos State Governor, Mr
Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said the State Government stands solidly behind the
position of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu on the issues of devolution of powers and the need to entrench true
federalism.
Tinubu, at a forum held in
Lagos recently, backed the calls for devolution of powers and the need for the
nation to truly adopt the practice of true federalism, submitting that it was
the surest way to correct the nation’s power imbalance and quell the agitations
for secession.
The Governor, while
responding to a question raised by a resident on calls for true federalism
said, “I support true federalism; I support all the issues raised by Asiwaju;
we are on the same page. That is the page of APC; that is where we are and that
is what we are committed to. Like I have always said, we need to deal with
issues that relate to devolution of powers. Like somebody said, if I have more
resources, all these items that you are coming to raise here, once you raise
it, I will just say done. I need more money. So, why should somebody be saying
they are the ones in charge of inland waterways when the waterways is
transporting my own people and my own services and when there is a law about
it”.
Governor Ambode also
questioned why despite the existence of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant
Consumption Law enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly, there were still
attempts from the central government to regulate hotels and entertainment
centres in the State, a situation he said was an anomaly that should be
addressed accordingly.
“We enact a law and
somebody says he wants to do another law that regulates hotels inside Lagos. Is
it not because of the roads that they put hotel there? That is what devolution
of power is saying. If these things are on residual list, let Local Government
and States deal with them. That is all that we are asking for. It’s not that we
will generate Value Added Tax (VAT) here and somebody will be sharing 50 per
cent of the VAT somewhere else.
“So, obviously that is the
whole idea behind this agitation for true federalism, devolution of powers and
the need to use it to liberate ourselves so that we can get more prosperous; so
that our people can be more comfortable and it is all about the welfare of our
people. Our people have said that we should do this work and we must be able to
speak on your behalf on the things that really matter to all of you,” he said.
Alluding to the fact that
the last four months of the year, popularly called the Ember months usually
spring up security challenges, the Governor charged Traditional Rulers and
community leaders in the State to join hands with the State Government to wage
a total war against all forms of crimes as well as drug abuse in their various
communities.
He said his administration
will not relent in its efforts towards reducing the menace, adding however that
concerted efforts from the traditional rulers and community leaders, who are
closest to the people, were very pivotal to achieving the desired result.
“We are in October and we
are going to December, naturally, when it gets to the ember months, somehow
traditionally, crime rate go up but in the last two years, we have been able to
reduce crime rate when it is coming to December.
“I want to appeal to all
our traditional rulers and other community leaders; there is a need for us to
support the Neighborhood Safety Corps. Also our volunteers and the people
should now be more vigilant and then cooperate with our security agencies to
maintain law and order. I want to reduce
the crime rate to the barest minimum and I know that we are going to engage a
lot of our youths in end of the year activities to make sure that peace
continue to reign in Lagos,” the Governor said.
Besides, Governor Ambode
also implored the various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to increase
their awareness campaign on the dangers of drug abuse, saying that there was an
urgent need for them to also join the fight against all forms of domestic and
sexual violence.
“Like people already know,
we are at the forefront of fighting drugs, sexual abuse and violence against
women and children, we will not relent in fighting these menace in the society.
I believe strongly this is the time to talk to our children; I believe strongly
this is the time to talk to our wards and even those who are around us that
this time around, the State Government is ready to fight crime in all its
ramifications,” he said.
The Governor also commended
residents for their continuous support to his administration, saying that it
had gone a long way in driving the various infrastructural development
programmes implemented by the State Government.
He particularly commended
the efforts of some community associations who have taken the initiative to
start up projects in their vicinity, assuring that aside recognition from the
State Government, his administration would ensure that such projects would be
supported to ensure realisation.
Governor Ambode also tasked
chairmen of the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas to
look into the welfare of persons living with disabilities and the elderly,
saying that the all inclusive mantra of his administration must be felt in
every part of the State.
The Governor, who reeled
out some of the major projects embarked on by his administration in the last
quarter which include commencement of the reconstruction of Oshodi
International Airport Road, construction of Pen Cinema Flyover, opening of the
DNA Centre, appealed to residents on inconveniences being experienced as a
result of ongoing projects and assured that they would be completed on
schedule.
He said the State
Government was deeply concerned about the traffic situation in Apapa area in
recent times, saying that efforts would be put in place to address it, just as
he said that 43 major link roads affected by rain would be rehabilitated before
the end of the year.
Among dignitaries present
at the event include Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, former
Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Speakers of the House of
Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Hon Jokotola Pelumi, APC Chairman in Lagos,
Chief Henry Ajomale, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I and other major traditional
rulers, members of the State Executive Council, among others.
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