Tinubu, Fashola Crisis Boils Over
•Oba Akiolu, prominent Lagosians wade in
By Olawale Olaleye, 01.31.2010

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The simmering crisis between Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State and his estranged god-father and predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may have reached a boiling point as different groups mass behind the two gladiators in a development which if left unchecked, could change the face of politics in the nation’s commercial capital this week.
Also, a third group that is aimed at mediating in the crisis is being led by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu. The group consists of prominent Lagosians, most of whom are not partisan politicians.


The feud between Fashola and Tinubu which had been severally denied by both sides came to the fore last Thursday when a newspaper advertisement detailed several offences based on financial malpractices against the Fashola administration.
The advertisement placed by a group known as “The True Face of Lagos” was signed by one Dr. Tunde George and Mr. Kasali Martins who are believed to be working on behalf of the former governor of the state. They also accused members of the state House of Assembly of complicity in the offences as the legislators were said to have been bribed by the executive.
Some of the allegations made by the group are:


•That Fashola spent N1.5 billion to demolish the Bank of Industry (BOI) building, paying a company introduced by one Tunji Olowolafe in cash transfer only for him and his cronies to claim the land adjacent to it.
•That Fashola government awarded part of Western Avenue (Funsho Williams Road), about two kilometres road for N7.7 billion without the construction of any bridge. The project was carried out by Julius Berger.
•That the Fashola government awarded the construction of a road and drainage inside Gbagada General Hospital for over N1.8 billion to DEUX Projects Limited owned by Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, a close friend of the governor.
•That the sum of 1.5 billion naira of un-appropriated fund was claimed to have been spent on demolition of Oshodi without approval.


•That the helicopter deal was a big fraud. The helicopter was not built for any kind of emergency evacuation, rescue or to even combat urban fire. Over N5 billion has been spent on the two helicopters. And, the seal of Lagos State is not on it, and it is not even in Lagos but in the Niger Delta making money for some private people in government.
•That the Fashola government recklessly increased and paid over 60% increase on the LASU – Iba road awarded by the Bola Tinubu government for N6.2 billion but was jerked up to N10 billion less than two weeks after the incumbent governor came on board.


•That the Tinubu administration awarded the construction of City Hall for N2.3 billion. Fashola’s government which only changed the floor tiles to marble tiles, increased the contract sum to N5.2 billion. The cost of the project was increased by 126%.
•That the Fashola spent over N13 billion on planting of grass and flowers. Most of the money was spent to import Palm trees from Niger Republic, a sahel region when Lagos is in the rain forest which explains why most of them have dried up.
•That a CCTV project was awarded to Fashola’s relation who claimed to be acting for CISCO. The contract was awarded for $62 million, while the rejected quote for the contract was $30 million.


•That DEUX PROJECT LIMITED was awarded 11 out of 19 contracts in the Lagos State Ministry of health between January and August 2009. Out of N5.6 billion contract in the Ministry of Health, Deux Project alone collected N5.1 billion worth and was paid 70% upfront in cash.
THISDAY was unable to reach Governor Fashola to respond to the allegations contained in the advertorial but one of his close aides dismissed the claims by the group as baseless and unfounded.
In the defence of the governor, the aide said the feud was not about any inflation of contract cost or financial recklessness. They said it was a move to force the governor to renew the contracts between Alpha Beta, a revenue collection consultancy owned by Tinubu and the state government. The firm had been collecting all revenues on behalf of Lagos State government since the period the Tinubu government was in power.


However, when the firm’s contract expired last year, Fashola was said to have refused to renew it because the commission is too big and he needs the revenue to build roads, schools and hospitals.
Also, an associate of the former governor said the issue of Alpha Beta should not be dragged into the case of a governor who refused to follow due process and financial regulations in the award of contracts.


Same Thursday that the advertorial by the group was published, the House of Assembly set up a six-man panel headed by Hon. Rasak Balogun to investigate the plethora of allegations and make recommendations accordingly. Other members of the committee are: Mr. Sanai Agunbiade; Mr. Rotimi Olowo; Mr. Moshood Oshun, Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso and Mrs. Omowunmi Edet.
Insiders in the Action Congress (AC), the party to which Fashola and Tinubu belong yesterday told THISDAY that the investigative panel is the unofficial commencement of impeachment process.
It is believed that the report of the investigative panel may either be used to get Fashola off the seat of Lagos governorship or may become a tool to finally subdue him and force him to fall in line.


The source said: “Fashola is beginning to behave as if he got into that position only on his own merit. He forgot that he is a product of a process controlled by certain political forces. Some individuals, some of them non-politicians who claim to be Lagos elite are now building a ring around him, giving him false confidence that he has been doing very well and should cut off from the political forces which labored to get the people of Lagos State to elect him. That is actually the crux of the matter.”
The position of the AC chieftain who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue correlates with the views of the speaker of Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji who while responding to the 2010 budget presentation by Fashola last year warned the governor to tread with caution and not get carried away by praises from some people who do not appreciate the enormity of the problems in the state which the administration is yet to address.


Also, a source in the Lagos Assembly yesterday denied any plan to impeach Fashola. The source said it would be out of place that such allegations are levelled against the executive and the legislature would pretend as if it did not hear of it.
“What the House is trying to do in all of these is to set the record straight and sift the facts from the fallacy. If they are true, we will address it and if false, we will still address it. But it is amazing why people are crying wolf over non-existent impeachment moves. But this would not deter us. We will do our job satisfactorily as would be certified by our conscience,” the source said.
However, to stave off the threat of impeachment against the governor, several groups have emerged aiming to launch mass campaigns to thwart any plan to distract Fashola from the performance of his duties as governor.


The groups have been sending out messages through telephones and emails to mobilise support for Fashola and to send strong signals that politicians in the state should strive to resolve their differences amicably instead of derailing the “good governance” that Lagosians have been enjoying under Fashola’s administration.
As part of the activities of the ad-hoc groups that have emerged to mobilise support for Fashola, a protest rally has been slated for tomorrow as a show of solidarity for the governor who is believed to be vilified for political reasons.


One of the text messages being sent around ahead of tomorrow’s rally read: “Yesterday, a faceless group writes in Punch newspapers, spurious allegations against our governor, BRF Fashola. Today, the House of Assembly begins impeachment proceedings against him. We, the people, need to rise up against this. We need to rise up against godfatherism like this. Lagos is the envy of other states. We need to put a stop to this or Lagos will burn. Our fate is in our hands.”
Another of such pro-Fashola messages also states: “Let’s not fold our hands and watch evil happen in Lagos. Join us in a peaceful rally for BRF Monday morning, 8am in front of Adebola House, Opebi, Ikeja all in support of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Please, show up. Dress code: black on black. Eko o gbodo baje o.”


There is also the text message that states: “Here they go again!!! Playing politics with our lives as if our opinion does not count!!! No more!! They are trying to discredit and distract good governance that even a blind man can see in Lagos. It’s time for the people to act and fight for our rights. Show your support for governor Fashola by pressing your horn for two minutes wherever you are at 7am, 12noon and 7pm from Monday, 1st of February to Friday, the 5th. Please, circulate this text to your entire network. Real power is in the hands of the people. Let’s use it to deliver ourselves from the selfish games of the politicians. Eko o gbodo baje o!!!”


However, worried by the developments in the past one week in the state politics, the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu is said to have put machinery in place to ensure that the crisis does not degenerate. The Oba is said to have invited the speaker, Hon. Ikuforiji with a view to discussing the issues.
Although, the meeting is yet to hold as the speaker is said to have been out of town, it is believed that the duo would meet later today. The Oba’s meeting may also be attended by some prominent Lagosians who are retired bureaucrats, former security officials, top professionals, businessmen and others.
It is not the first time that the monarch would wade into disagreements between Fashola and Tinubu.

I was hammering on the fact that Fasola cannot be different from Tinubu and that the helicopter he bought was a fraud. But Babapupa AKA Fasola wanted to eat me raw then. E don shele. Eko ti fe baje oh!!! Hahahahah!

them don take Yoruba swear for this person.

Obsessed doesnt begin to describe him.

from Yorubas to mekushort



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Yt0xJKDY8


dont drift off because of this video plz

tpia.:

them don take Yoruba swear for this person.

Obsessed doesnt begin to describe him.

He must he speaks it all the time lmfao

If it is true[/b]The only sin of fashola is going on the party platform as govenor with tinubu as the main man behind him.

Mekusxyz:

That the Fashola government recklessly increased and paid over 60% increase on the LASU – [b]Iba road awarded by the Bola Tinubu government for N6.2 billion but was jerked up to N10 billion less than two weeks after the incumbent governor came on board.

If it is true[/b]Obviously the plan to jerk up contract was conceived by the previous Government(Tinubu).

[b]If it is true
on the other hand Fashola shouldnt have allowed himself to be used, Pedro didnt neither did Williams

If it is true
Tinubu is poisonous sha.

Mekusxyz:


THISDAY was unable to reach Governor Fashola to respond to the allegations contained in the advertorial but one of his close aides dismissed the claims by the group as baseless and unfounded.
In the defence of the governor, the aide said the feud was not about any inflation of contract cost or financial recklessness. They said it was a move to force the governor to renew the contracts between Alpha Beta, a revenue collection consultancy owned by Tinubu and the state government. The firm had been collecting all revenues on behalf of Lagos State government since the period the Tinubu government was in power.

However, when the firm’s contract expired last year, Fashola was said to have refused to renew it because the commission is too big and he needs the revenue to build roads, schools and hospitals.

hmmm I can believe this part

Tpia,

I did not know Fasola and Tinubu are equal to Yoruba. Based on that, if Fasola and Tinubu are thieves and they are both equal to Yoruba, it then implies, from your claim, that Yoruba are thieves since they are equal to Fas and Tinubu, who are thieves. You go use your hand wound yourself oh!

Tinubu and his friends are just mad that Fashola actually has a mind of his own and isn't a sheep that does everything they want. This 2010 in Nigeria is looking to be very interesting. I'm praying that all these developments will finally lead to Nigerians getting rid of all those blocking the way of progress. Tinubu probably seriously underestimated what Fashola was capable of doing and that he had vision.

If Tinubu and co. were looking to get rid of Fashola it might have been easier in the beginning of his governorship, but now that the people have actually seen what good governance looks like it will be a very tall task to remove Fashola. Right now Lagosians will re-elect Fashola regardless of the party that he is in.

Political parties in Nigeria are all pretty much the same. They are not real poltical parties who acutally want to develop the country but just have different ideologies on how to do that.

I don't know the protocol for starting new political parties in Nigeria. But if AC becomes too suffocating for Fashola maybe he and others he knows that have a vision for Nigeria can start their own party.

I pray that all of Fashola's detractors do not succeed. Amen

Mekusxyz:

Tpia,

I did not know Fasola and Tinubu are equal to Yoruba. Based on that, if Fasola and Tinubu are thieves and they are both equal to Yoruba, it then implies, from your claim, that Yoruba are thieves since they are equal to Fas and Tinubu, who are thieves. You go use your hand wound yourself oh!

99.9 % of your threads and posts on this forum are about Yorubas.

Why do you have so much disdain for your own tribe (not Yoruba oh)? Which you're hiding, btw. Your very Nigerianness itself is under suspicion.

seriously- talk to me now. I see beyond your weak attempts to "big up" your adopted tribe which you're trying to pretend is your own.


Your bosses gave you this script because they know your pathological mindset and your contempt for your roots.

You thought pulling down Yorubas will make you feel better, but obviously you continue feeling as wretched as before, hence you're stuck in a rut.

pele

Tpia
why are you so concerned about mekus,please dont get carried away by his tribalistic comment

Mekusxyz is just a Yoruba wanna be,he hates his own tribe

This is preposterous, derisory and farcical, i am totally left in a melancholic and tragicomical state.
  Words Fail Me. . .

See the kettle(Tinubu) calling the pot(Fashola) black!

This is an evidence that Nigeria is allergic to true development. 

In the defence of the governor, the aide said the feud was not about any inflation of contract cost or financial recklessness. They said it was a move to force the governor to renew the contracts between Alpha Beta, a revenue collection consultancy owned by Tinubu and the state government. The firm had been collecting all revenues on behalf of Lagos State government since the period the Tinubu government was in power.

However, when the firm’s contract expired last year, Fashola was said to have refused to renew it because the commission is too big and he needs the revenue to build roads, schools and hospitals.

How can a siting governor own a company that is charged with collecting the state's revenues? On top of that, Tinubu's was charging excessive commission! 

The Lagosians can set a great example for the nation by defanging this godfather, Tinubu, and sending a real message to the rest of them, nation-wide.  Lagosians must fully support Fahola in these matters or shame on them.

The masses must take the fight to the corrupt, powerful elite.

@@@@

oduduwa

we are bloody watching

kosovo:

This is preposterous, derisory and farcical, i am totally left in a melancholic and tragicomical state.
  Words Fail Me. . .

You alone with all these grammar!

Oro yi abi emi. Make them leave my Fash alone.

Tinubu or no Tinubu, AC or no AC, BRF is doing 2 terms. Eko o ni baje.