The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday said the $20bn allegedly declared missing under President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch can build 10 Burj Khalifa in Dubai, reputed to be the tallest building in the world.
Fashola, who said this during the All Progressives Congress campaign rally in the Epe area of the state, added that corruption and diversion of public funds had retarded the nation’s economic growth and transformation. He said, “Rather than develop strategies that would improve the economy, the current administration inflicted pains on the citizens. “The Burj Khalifa building in Dubai was built with $1.5bn to arrest the attention of the world. This administration has lost $20bn. The money lost by the current administration could be used to build 10 of the structure. “We are the only oil producing country that is importing oil products. They spent over N2tn to import petrol.”
The party’s governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, promised to create a new city in Epe town by completing an airport project initiated by Fashola. Noting that electricity had been the major problem of the area, Ambode promised to tackle it holistically to enhance the economic prosperity of residents and also re-ignite the social lives of the people.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has said the APC candidates for the legislative seats in both state and national levels will consolidate on the gains made presently if elected.
Ashafa, who was also in the Epe rally, added that the candidates contesting for legislative seats in the state were the best. He said if all the APC candidates were elected, it would be possible for the party governorship candidate to complete Fashola’s projects and initiate new ones.
Also present were a former Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Jokotola Pelumi, members of the Akinwunmi Ambode Kommittee of Friends and other government officials. Source: Punch
