29th March, 2017
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has excelled despite inheriting a huge debt burden from his predecessor.
Former Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola had left a huge debt profile of N418.2 billion for Ambode to grapple with.
Speaking at the commissioning of Abesan-Aboru Link Bridge in Alimosho, Tinubu said he was scared when Ambode took over because of the huge debt burden he inherited, but that the governor had braved the odds and excelled.
“I was hell worried when you took (Ambode) over, not about your credibility, character or capacity, but because however wise or smart a man is, if there is no resources to back the ideas, production would be zero, progress would be zero.
“When you (Ambode) took over, I know you inherited a burden of debt. The debt profile of Lagos was high, I was wondering how you will re-engineer and face the challenges to make progress.
“Today I can see your report card, you have scored well, you have shown prudency especially in the use of resources of the State. All over Lagos, we are seeing the results. At Oshodi, on our way down here, you can see what is happening there, that place is a construction site. It used to be a den of robbers but what is going on there now is developmental activities for the benefit of the entire country,” he stated.
Tinubu described Ambode as a “very quiet, very peaceful, not a noise maker, but he is delivering on the job. Today, you (Ambode) have given me a good birthday present. This is a great opportunity for me to be very proud again. You didn’t disappoint us. Ambode is silently achieving, religiously executing and brilliantly giving results for Lagos State.”
Speaking at the event, Ambode said his administration had kept his promise to deliver the bridge, saying that “Today, we have a 480 metres bridge linking Aboru to Abesan, both in the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council of Alimosho Local Government Area. This bridge has significantly eased the burden of travel between these two communities by reducing travel time and eliminating the risks associated with its non-existence.”
In addition, he said his government had constructed additional adjoining inner roads to create an efficient road network that would aid connectivity permanently, listing the roads to include: Church Street, Giwa Street, Victor Fagbemi Road, Ogunfayo Road, Ogundare Street and Salami Kazeem, with a total length of 5.5km with drainage, walkways and street lights.
The governor added that the road network eased the pressure on the Abeokuta Expressway and linked residents with Iyana Ipaja and LASU-Iba Expressway.
“This project is an indication that our government listens and responds to the needs of our people. We will continue to deliver first class infrastructure to improve the lives of our people, boost the economy and create jobs for our youths,” he said.
Ambode urged residents to take ownership and protect the infrastructure provided by using them appropriately so that they could serve for a long time.
Ambode also flagged off the commissioning of the construction of a network of roads within the boundaries of Lagos and Ogun States, saying that it was in honour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as the brain behind the 21st century Lagos.
He expressed optimism that the roads which had been identified for immediate construction and rehabilitation would complete the new face of Alimosho constituency, saying that work would commence next week.
Ambode listed the roads to include Ikola Road with Odo Obasanjo Bridge – 6.4km (from Ipaja/Command to Ilo River); Ogunseye Road – 1.75km (from Ajasa/Command to Ikola Road);Oko Filling Road – 1.5km (from AIT to Ilo River); Osenatu Ilo road – 620m (from Ibari Road to Ilo River); Amikanle road – 3.1km (from AIT to Ogunseye Road); Aina Aladi road – 1.9km (from AIT to Ilo River) and Aiyetoro Road with a bridge– 1.4km (from New Market/Ishefun Road intersection to Ilo River).
He, however, appealed to the residents of the communities to cooperate with the contractors so as to enable them deliver the network of roads not later than the scheduled completion date.
Also, State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Senator representing Lagos West at the Senate, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola said it was obvious that Ambode started well and is doing well, and solicited the cooperation of the people to engender further dividends of democracy and good governance.