By David Atilola
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) in collaboration with Peoples Action for Democracy (PAD) recently organized a town hall meeting for all the Lagos State Governorship aspirants at Lagos Open Parliament (LOP).
The meeting brought together the Governorship aspirants of all the political parties in Lagos State, creating a platform for each candidate to project their manifestos.
Speaking at the event, CACOL chairman, Debo Adeniran, said that politics should be the collective responsibility of every citizen in the state. He also explained the rational behind the event:
“It is aimed at developing our political institution, ensuring accountability in governance, and most importantly establishing a concord in political views among political aspirants, as well as the electorates, in such a way that the basis of election is predefined and tailored genuine programs contained in the manifestos.”
Politics is a serious business that must not be left to politicians alone, he said.
The speaker of Lagos state house of assembly, honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, one of the aspirants on the platform of APC, also spoke at the meeting. He said that having seen the decaying condition of today’s government he understands how to fix the system as a governor.
“I will provide the necessary leadership for Lagos to get to the next level. It will not just be about education, health, transportation but everything put together to put smiles on the faces of ordinary Lagosians, I know the suffering of the people and I’m for the people,” Ikuforiji stated.
Another aspirant in APC, Dr Leke Pitan said his manifestos would focus mainly on human capital development.
“I provide human capital development both as training, empowerment,” he said
“Health, education, security, empowerment, employment so that we can maximize their potentials and also ensure that power is available to the masses,” Pitan stressed.
Another aspirant on the platform of National conscience party (NCP), Kehinde Adeoye, said if elected into power the priority of the party is to ensure that there is free education up to university level and free health care for all Lagosians from 0-15years and 60years above, adding that the state has the capacity to do this task.
“It is only Lagos that can stand on their own even if federal government doesn’t fund the state, it has much income especially in taxation.”
Adeoye said that the he would look into the area of tourism in the state because the country has depended too much on crude oil ignoring other sectors.
“The problem has not been how to prepare budget but implementation and to implement the country must do away with corruption,” he noted.
Tokunbo Wahab on his own part, who is also an aspirant, believes that it was time to redeem Lagos budget, time for constructive change.
“How to implement this, we shall keep infrastructure in Lagos state, we shall invest in primary, secondary and vocational skill while subsiding for education at university level,” he added.