AMBODE, A MAN OF IMPECCABLE CHARACTER
——– ARC. ANIFOWOSHE ABIOLA
QUOTE: HIS VICTORY IS ORDAINED BY GOD ALMIGHTY. WE WOULD CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM TO GO HIGHER BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TOMORROW. MAYBE AFTER HIS TENURE AS GOVERNOR, THE NEXT LEVEL MAY BE PRESIDENCY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAN IS STILL VERY YOUNG.
Architect Anifowoshe W.Abiola, is the Lagos State chairman of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, also the Director General of AKINWUNMI AMBODE Independent Campaign Organization, situated at no 10, Ibadan close, opebi, Ikeja-Lagos. In this exclusive interview with Flies magazine, he talks on the success recorded by his party, All Progressive Congress (APC)
AS THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AKINWUNMI AMBODEINDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION, WHAT SHOULD THE GOOD PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE EXPECT FROM THIS INCOMING ADMINISTRATION?
The first thing my candidate is going to do is thathe will transfer governance to the Local level. That is; bringing governance to the people at the grass root. It is the people that will tell you what they want and not you telling the people what you want for them. This is going to be a participatory government. This is going to be a number one major difference. And this is what Ambode, who is a man of his words, has been saying for the past three years of his intention that if voted in to power, he will bring governance to the grass root. The needs of every town is different from oneanother. Ambode, Lagos State governor –elect, is a man of impeccable character, quote me anywhere.
WOULD THIS INCOMING ADMINISTRATION BE ACCESSIBLE?
If you know this gentleman very well, he was once a public servant that rose to the pinnacle of his career at a very tender age. While he was in office as the Accountant General of Lagos State, he never turned his back against anybody and his doors were always open to the people. I can tell you categorically that this man is accessible and he will continue to be accessible. His victory is ordained by God almighty. We would continue to pray for him to go higher because, nobody knows what might happen tomorrow.Maybeafter his tenure as governor, the next level may be presidency. As you can see, the man is still very young.
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA IS NOW IN THE SAME PARTY WITH LAGOS STATE, WHAT DOES THIS POTENT IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE?
Lagos State is the nerve centre of the economy of Africa sub region, unless you want to play politics. Look at New York for example: in America, they callNew York the capital of the world; that is the commercial nerve centre of the world. America government does not play with it. New York is given everything she deserves so that she can prospect. Now, the number of people that lives in Lagos is enough to form a Country. One begins to wonder why they are trooping to Lagos like this and the answer is not far fetched. It is because Lagos State is the nerve centre of the Country. Everybody wants to live here. It’s a rare thing that can happen in other states of the federation. Having the right person at the centre that knows the importance of Lagos State, more infrastructural development would be seen here. We do not need to be selfish or bias about it, Lagos is very strategic to the nation. 75% of VAT collected in this Country is collected in Lagos. 70% of electricity generated in this Country is being consumed in Lagos, so why are we punishing ourselves. Let’s give the right thing to the right person. Let’s give what belongs to Lagos to Lagos. Let me tell you; majority of the federal roads are being maintained by Lagos State and yet we are not being paid. You heard what the president –elect said; he told our governor-elect that as soon as he comes in to the office by the grace of God, he will pay every outstanding owed to Lagos State. The federal government is owing Lagos State fifty onebillion naira (N51bn) on the jobs that Lagos State did for them. If Lagos truly gets what she deserves,I bet you, a lot of projects would be completed in no time. There is coastal road on the sea port that is supposed to be developed but no support from the federal government. Again, federal government had retired pensioners in the state and Lagos State government had paid their quarter, while the federal government has refused to pay their own. Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria, Lagos has always been in opposition. What happened in federal, does not happen in Lagos. For the first time in the history of the Country, God has answered our prayers and we now have federal presence in Lagos. Lagos is a mini Country. If you look at the population of Lagos, most Country in West Africa can not match with the population in Lagos. Lagos is seen as the third largest city in the whole world. I can tell you now that, a lot of development would happen in Lagos because of the same political ideology between the federal and the state. According to president-elect, Gen. Mohammed Buhari, much effort would be channeled to Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of the Country.
WE ARE AWERE THAT YOU HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CONGRESS OF PROGRESSIVE YOUTH (COPY), WHAT IS THIS RELATIONSHIP ALL ABOUT?
To start with, Congress of Progressive Youth (COPY) is an arm of “ AkinwunmiAmbode” Movement. They are very strategic to our movement. The head is in our national exco, hardly do we have any assignment that is going on that they do not partake in. We appreciate them a lot because they are very strategic. What this group (COPY) has done for us cannot be quantified. Also, I am using this medium to thank them very well.
RUMOURS ARE MAKING THE ROUNDS THAT APC WILL BE WORSE THAN PDP, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE CONCERNING YOUR PARTY ON THIS?
Let me start by saying this, APC was controlling five states before the 2015 elections, go there and see what has happened in these states in terms of infrastructural development. For example, Lagos is a pace setter, it leads while others follow. If Lagos can be this developed for the past sixteen years without collecting one kobo from the federal government,you can imagine what will happen when there is a federal presence. Go to Ogun State, since the creation of that state, they never had a fly-over bridge. APC got in to power less than four years, the state has transformed from an Ancient city to a modern one. Go to Edo State, Osun State, Oyo same thing; these are APC-controlled states and they have all done wonderfully well. APC is a party for all. If we can do it perfectly well at the state level, then it’s going to be an easy ride at the federal level.
THANK YOU, SIR
You are welcome!
