Lagos State lagging behind in democracy, says PDP
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the story of June 12 and the events that followed it will continue to be told to generations of Nigerians.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said this, yesterday, during a summit organised by Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement to mark the 30th anniversary of June 12.
He implored Nigerians never to allow the experience of the annulment of the June 12 election to happen again.
The governor noted that June 12, 1993, was, no doubt, a watershed in the political history of Nigeria.
He said that in spite of the election receiving global acknowledgement as the freest, fairest and most credible, the military junta scuttled the process and annulled the election.
The governor said the message to all Nigerians is to remain steadfast, guard the country’s fledgling democracy jealously, remain united as one great people with common destiny and, most importantly, continue to have faith in the “Renewed Hope” mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hamzat also represented the governor at the late MKO Abiola’s residence to lay a wreath in honour of the departed.
One of Abiola’s children, Ayo, hoped and prayed to see great things being done by the current administration, on the principles of June 12.
MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has said residents are yet to enjoy the dividends of democracy, despite the sacrifices of June 12.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, yesterday, the opposition party urged the people to be resilient and remain hopeful that the best is on the way, adding that they (residents) “deserve more than they are experiencing” under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Amode said that Lagos State is blessed with natural and human resources but “has little or nothing to show for it.”
He said in comparison with other megacities across the world, the authorities have failed to lift Lagos State to an enviable level.
The PDP promised that once it takes over power, the people “would enjoy their wealth as whatever is realised would be used for the development.”
He said: “Recall that it was on June 12, 1993 that the nation had her freest and fairest Presidential Election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, but was annulled by the government of former president Ibrahim Babangida.
“However, we recalled that Lagos State was a hotbed of crisis after the annulment, which led to June 12 riots on the streets of Lagos and the death of several residents of the state.
“In view of this, we wish to congratulate the residents of the state for their tolerance and resilience since the country returned to democracy in 1999.
“We also want them to be hopeful and resilient as we have the belief that the best is on the way for the state.
“There is no doubt that the state is yet to enjoy real dividends of democracy, which the late Chief M.K.O Abiola and the June 12, 1993 elections stood for.
“For us in the Lagos State PDP, we believe that the residents of the state deserve more than they are experiencing under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Lagos State is blessed with both natural and human resources, apart from the fact that it is the commercial nerve centre of the nation, and the state has little or nothing to show for it.
“This is a state that ought to set the pace for others in education, health and other infrastructure based on her huge income.
“By now, Lagos should have been the cynosure of all eyes and built to a city compared to notable cities of the world such as Dubai, Johannesburg and others.
“However, we promise that once the PDP takes over power in the state, the residents of the state would begin to enjoy their wealth as whatever is realized in the state would be used for the development of the metropolitan state.
“Once again, we wish the residents of Lagos State all the best at this period, while we urge them to look forward to better governance soon under the PDP.”
