Those Fighting Me Are Fighting God — Ikuforiji

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has replied those who are bent on discrediting his efforts and has declared that such people are tempting God.

Ikuforiji made this declaration while receiving the Epe Division Elders Forum, made up of eminent persons from Epe where the Speaker hails from.

The Speaker, who said he was elated by the massive support from his home base, thanked his guests and described those behind his ordeal as “political detractors” who are desperately “gunning for the soul of Lagos State.

According to him, the N500million received monthly for servicing the Assembly, as contained in the budget of the state, is used to cater for the whole of the legislative arm of Lagos State.

He listed items the money is spent on to include payments for local and international training programmes for members and support staff, numbering over 600, maintenance of vehicles, expenditure on diesel and petrol for generators and vehicles, maintenance of buildings, and stationery.

He further explained that he is very conscious of his position, integrity and place of origin, adding that he never made the issue of amassing wealth the central focus of his life.

He, however, declared: “I will not relent in pursuing good governance and the emancipation of the people of Lagos State no matter the intensity of falsehood being peddled against me.

“No matter the level of the detractors’ gimmicks and obstacles put in our way, God will deliver us. God, who delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh, God, who made Joseph to get to his destination to rule Israel, and God who made these people’s enemies to bow down for them will make our enemies to bow down for us.

“There is always a price for leadership. I have given Lagos my very best, mindful of my source (Epe), conscious of the importance attached to the area. I have not made money a central issue in my life.

“It is unimaginable and against reason for anybody to think that the N500million monthly running cost will go to the Speaker’s office alone. The people behind this charade are envious of our achievements.

“They are just being mischievous; they are fighting God. They cannot win in the name of Allah,’’ he concluded.

Earlier, the leaders advised the Lagos State Speaker to remain focused and refuse to be distracted by recent incidents that have affected his office.

While assuring him of the group’s support at all times, the president of the Forum, Alhaji Shakiru Akanni Seriki, said: “You are our son, you have performed creditably since your assumption of office as the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly in December, 2005. We members of Epe Division Leadership Forum from the place of your birth are indeed very proud of your marvellous achievements.

“It is pubic knowledge for instance that our dear state of Lagos has been receiving commendations from far and wide for showcasing best practices in governance for long now”.

“While the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, remains the best governor today as attested to by the people and even by members of the opposition nationwide; the same kudos is also logically shared by the Lagos State House of Assembly.’

“Since all the laws that have paved the way for the massive infrastructural transformation of Lagos State under our action governor have all been appropriately churned out by your foremost legislative body, under the able leadership of our son, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, we therefore wish to place it on record that our son, the Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, has emerged as the best Speaker in Nigeria today. And we are proud of your achievements.

“This is so because, considering the chaos and stunted growth and bad governance that have been witnessed in other parts of Nigeria since 1999, our dear state of Lagos has remained on top.”

The group thanked the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence he has on those elected to serve the people of the state.

“Our advice to you is that you should remain focused and refuse to be distracted. We are sure that the Almighty God will vindicate you because you remain without blemish.

“Let us also assert here that come 2015, it is Epe’s turn and we know that all that members of a faceless group are trying to do is to distract you from our ultimate goal. But we know that they will fail woefully by the grace of God. Also speaking at the occasion, a former Commissioner for Health and Special Duties, Dr. Tola Kasali, said that nothing would come out of “the libellous and vindictive petition against the Speaker since it is packed full of lies.”

Dr. Kasali, who is also the vice president of the Forum, said that no amount of such fictitious petitions would stop Epe Division from realising its dream come 2015, urging the Speaker to remain dedicated to the course of making Lagos State the best state in the country with his transparent and pro-people style leadership.