In his 8 years as governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola stood out amongst his peers. He was widely regarded as a performing governor who had a clear vision of transforming Lagos. He aggressively pursued policies that touched virtually every aspect of Lagos - Roads, bridges and markets were built and maintained. There was evidence everywhere to confirm his efforts to create a mega city. In the process he built a solid reputation for himself as a man who provided selfless service and as a man willing to utilize the vast resources of Lagos for the common good.
He was the golden boy who could do no wrong.Recent events have however shaken this hard-earned reputation to its very foundations. It all started with the disturbing revelation that Fashola had spent N78.3million of tax payers’ money to “upgrade” his website Tundefashola.com. Many at first found it hard to believe, but with eventual confirmation that the information was factual, it sent shockwaves all over the nation.Further revelations that the firm, Info Access Plus, which handled the upgrade was only paid N10million of theN78.3 million angered many Nigerians who were at a loss as to what happened to the balance of N68.3million. Further revelations were to come with the publication of other shady contracts awarded by the Fashola. These damning revelations were posted on the official Lagos State Government website to the surprise of many observers. Topping the list of these contracts were the reconstruction of Lagos House, Marina for N640million; N300million contract for the relocation of PHCN cables at LASUTH; replacement of railings on carter bridge for N175million. Another N619million for repairs to Ajara-Erekiti-Iragon-Ikoya roads in Badagry local government; a further N1.6billiom for the construction of VIP chalets at Badagry; another N510million contract for remodeling and equipping the official residence of the states chief judge at Ikoyi; a further N165million spent on an 18classroom school also in Badagry. It has also been revealed that Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode recalled certificates of occupancy to 25 plots of land in Lekki alleged to have been issued by the Fashola government in its last days in office, to his relations, aides and associates. He was also reported to have spent an undisclosed sum of money on a private property in Lagos.
CLOSER LOOK AT DEUX PROJECTS LTD
Searchlight was also beamed on a close friend of former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, Tunji Olowolafe, who was one of the major contractors in the administration of Fashola.Olowolafe’s company, Deux Project Limited, was said to have benefitted in the immediate past government of his bosom friend.Information concerning contracts awarded to Olowolafe by Fashola was revealed by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency on the Lagos State website and since then, residents of Lagos have been calling for the head of Olowolafe. Also, the call to probe Fashola has intensified.Contracts were reportedly awarded to the company running into billions of Naira. It was said that Deux Project Limited received about N139 million to drill two boreholes at Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos. Also, about N300 million was reportedly paid by Lagos State Government under the former governor to handle relocation of cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja.According to further reports, Olowolafe’s company got N220million for Lagos State University College of Medicine Facility Management.More revelations about juicy contracts awarded to this single company during the tenure of Mr. Fashola appeared lopsided and enough to raise eyebrows of many with more details emerging.
Searchlight was also beamed on a close friend of former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, Tunji Olowolafe, who was one of the major contractors in the administration of Fashola.Olowolafe’s company, Deux Project Limited, was said to have benefitted in the immediate past government of his bosom friend.Information concerning contracts awarded to Olowolafe by Fashola was revealed by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency on the Lagos State website and since then, residents of Lagos have been calling for the head of Olowolafe. Also, the call to probe Fashola has intensified.Contracts were reportedly awarded to the company running into billions of Naira. It was said that Deux Project Limited received about N139 million to drill two boreholes at Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos. Also, about N300 million was reportedly paid by Lagos State Government under the former governor to handle relocation of cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja.According to further reports, Olowolafe’s company got N220million for Lagos State University College of Medicine Facility Management.More revelations about juicy contracts awarded to this single company during the tenure of Mr. Fashola appeared lopsided and enough to raise eyebrows of many with more details emerging.
THE FAMOUS PIGFIGHT RESPONSE
Whilst confirming the authenticity of the above reports, Fashola attempted to defend himself with the recent release of a statement signed by him. In the statement, he spiritedly tried to explain that the contract for the website upgrade involved other works and services which went beyond the upgrade. He listed such other services as handover countdown clock, mobile apps, google, IOS ipad, Microsoft and blackberry. He dismissed the notion that the website was personal to him and claimed it helped him perform his job as governor.He also argued that all other contracts he awarded followed due process and were all approved by the Lagos state house of assembly. He was however silent on the revocation of the certificates of occupancy to the 25 plots at Lekki by the current governor. He also defended the huge debt overhang on Lagos by asserting that all loans during his tenure received parliamentary approval, further claiming that the state was “healthy and stable” at his departure.Finally the ex-governor claimed that all the unfounded allegations against him which began to emerge in his last days in office were the products of “agents of hate”. In a thinly veiled reference to Akinwumi and his estranged Godfather, Bola Tinubu, he chastised persons who had written petitions against him. He said: “I expect them to know that allegations of wrong doing are not resolved in press conferences”.
TINUBU’S BARE-FACE DENIAL
Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu has since distanced himself from the accusations of sleaze and malfeasance against the former poster boy of the APC, opting to shift the blame squarely at the door step of the now main opposition party, the PDP. In a recent statement, Mr. Tinubu said he is not behind the latest “rancid attacks” on Mr. Fashola.
“An attack against the performance of Governor Fashola is indirectly an attack against me and the edifice of achievement we have constructed in leading Lagos state out of a protracted time of stagnation and into an era of sustained progress and development,” said Mr. Tinubu.
He went on to accuse opposition elements of a deliberate attempt to sow discord in the APC by peddling falsehood.
“I for one will not bend to the artificial provocation of those seeking to tear at what we have painstakingly built over the years,” said Mr. Tinubu, who was also a governor in the state, between 1999 and 2007.
“In my mind, Governor Fashola and I are and shall always be political allies and fellow travelers on a vital journey; that alliance is unshakable and our journey must not be interrupted. I would no more attack his character or his administration than I would attack myself.”
With the storm beginning to seemingly blow out of control; it came as no surprise that the Tinubu camp responded vigorously in defense of his innocence.
It was also the first time Mr. Tinubu would speak out over claims that he was sponsoring individuals and groups to sustain media attacks against his successor.Many observers are convinced that the unseen hands of his former godfather Tinubu are behind Fashola’s travails, particularly with regards to the recent contracts revelations. Few are surprised at the turn of events. They point to the fact that Fashola had fallen out with Tinubu during his second term in office. It culminated with Fashola openly challenging Tinubu for the choice of their party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last elections. Tinubu was reportedly livid and all attempts to broker peace between the two of them fell apart. They related well in public, but in private, there was deep animosity. Tinubu bidded his time and it appears that the rumour that Buhari had Fashola in his ministerial list triggered his latest moves.
Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu has since distanced himself from the accusations of sleaze and malfeasance against the former poster boy of the APC, opting to shift the blame squarely at the door step of the now main opposition party, the PDP. In a recent statement, Mr. Tinubu said he is not behind the latest “rancid attacks” on Mr. Fashola.
“An attack against the performance of Governor Fashola is indirectly an attack against me and the edifice of achievement we have constructed in leading Lagos state out of a protracted time of stagnation and into an era of sustained progress and development,” said Mr. Tinubu.
He went on to accuse opposition elements of a deliberate attempt to sow discord in the APC by peddling falsehood.
“I for one will not bend to the artificial provocation of those seeking to tear at what we have painstakingly built over the years,” said Mr. Tinubu, who was also a governor in the state, between 1999 and 2007.
“In my mind, Governor Fashola and I are and shall always be political allies and fellow travelers on a vital journey; that alliance is unshakable and our journey must not be interrupted. I would no more attack his character or his administration than I would attack myself.”
With the storm beginning to seemingly blow out of control; it came as no surprise that the Tinubu camp responded vigorously in defense of his innocence.
It was also the first time Mr. Tinubu would speak out over claims that he was sponsoring individuals and groups to sustain media attacks against his successor.Many observers are convinced that the unseen hands of his former godfather Tinubu are behind Fashola’s travails, particularly with regards to the recent contracts revelations. Few are surprised at the turn of events. They point to the fact that Fashola had fallen out with Tinubu during his second term in office. It culminated with Fashola openly challenging Tinubu for the choice of their party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last elections. Tinubu was reportedly livid and all attempts to broker peace between the two of them fell apart. They related well in public, but in private, there was deep animosity. Tinubu bidded his time and it appears that the rumour that Buhari had Fashola in his ministerial list triggered his latest moves.
When Paparazzi sought the comment of a public affairs analyst on Fashola’s travails, he said: “Everyone who knows Tinubu agrees that he never forgives any form of challenge from any of his so-called godsons. What we are seeing now is a systematic destruction of the Fashola era with Akinwumi as launching pad. The danger however is that if all parties involved do not call a halt, they may all end up destroying each other. The Bola Tinubu era as governor had its own large share of controversies. Who bought the land used by the department of hotel and catering management of the Lagos state polytechnic and converted it to TVC television station? Everybody knows who the owner of TVC is. Who acquired the hostels of the Lagos State school of nursing at Awolowo way Ikoyi? Also, who converted the former Lagos government guest house at Ikoyi to personal use? The list is endless.”As a matter of fact, a damning statement by Afenifere. A Yoruba socio-cultural group before the last elections declared that Tinubu has been orchestrating the wholesale looting of Lagos from his time as governor and all through Fashola’s regime. The group accused Fashola of being used by “the lion of Bourdillon” to loot Lagos for eight years to the detriment of Lagosians. They accused Fashola of banning Lagos officials under his government from speaking to the press and also suppressing the freedom of information request on how much his government pays Alpha Beta Consulting owned by Tinubu from Lagos revenue monthly.Indeed, these are difficult times for a man once touted as a potential vice presidential candidate with a bright political future. A combination of relentless and devastating revelations by CACOL {Coalition against corrupt leaders}, Lagos PDP, Afenifere and the Lagos state government have literally torn his reputation to shreds.
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