Tinubu: I Was Worried When Ambode Won Election
Lagos governor unveils Aboru-Abesan link bridge
Gboyega Akinsanmi
The national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday disclosed that he was worried when Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, took over the mantle of leadership in the state in May 2015.
Tinubu, therefore, explained his concern and fear, which he said did not stem from Ambode’s capacity to meet people’s aspiration and yearning for good governance, but from the huge debt burden he inherited from his immediate predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
He disclosed this before the Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and six other roads in Alimosho Local Government Area were inaugurated to mark the 65th anniversary of the APC national leader.
Ambode unveiled the link bridge alongside his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Senator representing Lagos West, Senator Solomon Olamilekan and his Osun East counterpart, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, among others.
The bridge, which links at least seven communities in Agbado OkeOdo LCDA, was constructed by an indigenous construction firm, Strabic Construction Limited, a parent company of Laralek Ultimate Construction Limited.
The construction firm also donated a Comprehensive Primary Health Centre named in honour of Tinubu to Aboru and Agbelekale communities
The communities that the bridge connects together include Aboru, Abesan Federal Estate, Iyana-Ipaja, Ipaja-Ayobo, Ajasa-Command, Agbelekale, Baruwa and Egbeda among others.
Before unveiling the bridge, Tinubu disclosed that Ambode had not disappointed the people of Lagos State, though acknowledged that he was worried after Ambode took up the mantle of leadership.
He explained that he was not worried about Ambode’s character of excellence or his capacity to fulfill all the electoral promises the APC made to the people of the state at the heat of the 2015 elections.
He said: “I was worried because Ambode inherited huge debt burden. However, brilliant a man might be, however energetic a man might be, he cannot perform excellently if there is no resources.
“When Ambode took over the leadership of the state, I was thinking how to re-arrange and re-engineer the state’s debt burden. But today, I can see Ambode has taken Lagos to another level.”
Citing different strategic projects executed in two years, the APC national leader said Ambode “is a reflection of a true governor. He is a thinker. He is, also, a doer. He has combined doing and thinking together. That is why Lagos has recorded significant development under his reign.
“Truly, he has not disappointed us. Some political leaders, who said Ambode focused more on Epe, have to change their narratives. All over the state, we has the result. We drove through Oshodi this morning; it is a huge construction site. It used to be a haven of criminals.”
Tinubu, therefore, said Ambode has truly redefined governance, not just in Lagos, but also in Nigeria, pointing out the projects the Ambode administration has constructed one after the other.
If the Ambode administration continued the re-alignment of development and infrastructure needs in the state, he said Lagos State would match other developed countries in the world.
Tinubu thus, disclosed that Ambode had given him a real birthday gift, which he described as an opportunity “to observe progress in the state; talk to the people of Alimosho and to be proud again.”
He commended the APC leaders in Alimosho, noting that they “have never let him down. When we nominated Ambode in 2014, Alimosho leaders endorsed him 100 percent. I see progress ahead. 30 years in politics, we cannot say the same thing. This bridge is a mark of progress.”
Before unveiling the bridge, Ambode described the event as a historic day in the life of the people of Alimosho and the state in general, thereby recalling his visit to the Aboru area in March 2016.
Aside the state of the road which was totally unacceptable, the governor said there were reports of series of deaths and fatal accidents caused by the presence of a valley, which he said, informed his decision to immediately direct that work should commence in the area.
“Exactly one year after, we are here to keep our promise to the good people of Aboru, Abesan and other communities and reaffirm our commitment that no community or area will be left behind. Every Lagosian counts. We are a government of inclusion,” Ambode said
He said the 485-metre bridge linking Aboru to Abesan, both in the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area would significantly ease the burden of travellers between the two communities by reducing travel time and eliminating the risks associated with its non-existence.
Ambode said aside the bridge, additional adjoining inner roads to create an efficient road network that will aid connectivity permanently were also constructed.
The governor listed the newly constructed roads to include Church Street, Giwa Street, Victor Fagbemi Road, Ogunfayo Road, Ogundare Street and Salami Kazeem, all totalling 5.5 kilometres.
He said the roads “were constructed with drainage, walkways and street lights. The road network will ease the pressure on the Abeokuta Expressway and links residents with Iyana-Ipaja and LASU-Iba roads.”