The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the investigate the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN over the allegations of massive corruption perpetrated in the state.
This call came at the heel of the statement credited to the Lagos State Chapter Peoples Democratic Party. The party, through its Chairman Chief Tunji Shelle, had said that it was convinced of massive corruption in the administration of the state under Governor Fashola.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, averred that Chief Shelle’s statement corroborated CACOL’s petition to the EFCC and therefore called on the anti-graft agency to begin investigation into the allegations.
“This statement corroborated our stand on the administration of Governor Raji Fashola. It is a good thing that more members of the public are now coming up with their demands to probe the Lagos State government. It is not because CACOL is in alliance with any individual or political party that we are lending our voice to this call, but it is a point of vindication for our earlier call that Governor Fashola administration be probed.
We do not hold brief for anyone, but our concern as well-meaning Lagosians is why should a governor that claims to be progressive be so secretive that he would not want his activities to be probed? When the Lagos State House of Assembly wanted to investigate him, all he did was to run to the court of law to obtain injunction from being investigated. If the governor had not perpetrated corruption, why should he be afraid of being investigated?
As if that was not enough, he also gagged the members of his cabinet from speaking to the media, and we learnt Fashola also admitted oath of secrecy on Lagos State Civil Servants from Level 7 above. We are calling on the EFCC to beam its searchlight into the activities of Lagos State government and make its findings public,” Adeniran stated.
The anti-corruption crusader however, urged the Governor Fashola to come up with the state of the state’s address to render his stewardship so far to the Lagosians who voted him to power.
The earlier the governor realizes he is accountable to the Lagosians that overwhelmingly voted him to power, the better for him. All we are asking from the Governor is to come up with the state of the state’s address to tell Lagosians how much the state had generated so far, how much has been spent so that members of public can crosscheck with service providers to be sure the appropriated money is judiciously spent”.
Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer, CACOl
07 May, 2013
