Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections, Mr. Jimi Agbaje has promised to restore the lost glory of the state and ‘deliver it from the stranglehold of one man.’
Agbaje also promised to make life more meaningful for the teeming residents of the metropolitan state and kick-start a proper economic development of the state.
Speaking at his official declaration and launch with the critical stakeholders and members of the press on Saturday, Agbaje stated that things could be done differently in the state for the benefit of the people.
The pharmacist-turned politician added at the event, which held at Ultima Studios near Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos that he was sure that he would become the next governor of the state from May 29, 2019.
“These people have been in government in Lagos State for 20 years, what do we have to show for it. Lagosians between the ages of 18 and 50 do not see the future in the Lagos of today.
“Many residents of Lagos State want to relocate abroad, where there are good schools, constant electricity, and other amenities of life. The ruling party in the state has spent about N6 Trillion or $35 Billion in 20 years and they have nothing to show for it.
“Lagos State is one of the two megacities in the world that do not have light rail. Over 50% of the students in Lagos state’s public schools fail the West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSCE).
“Poor people in the state manage to send their children to private primary schools and when they get to secondary school level, they don’t have money to pay again all because our public schools are bad. We are mortgaging the future of our youths if we don’t get education right,” he said.
On health, Agbaje pointed out that the healthcare system of the state is not working, which he said was why nobody wants to go to public hospitals anymore.
He also faulted the housing and transport schemes of the state, saying that the only enduring roads in the state such as the Lekki-Epe Expressway were those constructed by the administration of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.
The PDP candidate, who faulted the democratic system of the ruling party, stated that he was running for the office of the governor of the state because he knew he could make things better and make life more meaningful for the people of the state.
“Our campaign is centred around those things that would make life better for the people of the state. In four years, the traffic situation in the state would be made better.
“The ruling party in the state has been on the light rail project since the past 12 years, we will get it done in four years. We will run a model based on health insurance.
“It is easier to do business in other states than in Lagos. People are made to pay all sorts of levies and taxes. They copied what we said on Social True Fund in 2015, but they didn’t get it right. We will cancel all these levies and attract investors into the state.
“We will ensure that the younger ones benefit from the social trust fund. They also copied our campaign promise of free Wi-Fi, but they didn’t get it right. This is not a luxury, it is something our people can enjoy,” he stated.
Agbaje also faulted the state government on the issue of power generation and promised to provide 1,000 megawatts of electricity for the people of the state within four years.
According to him, Lagos State used to be the industrial and economic headquarters of Nigeria, but the state has lost the industrial leadership to a neighbouring state.
The politician promised to correct this, and said that Lagos State is not working due to the vested interest of some individuals.
He stated that while the current situation is that the buck stops on the table of an individual different from the state Governor, the buck would stop on his table if given the opportunity to serve.
“My campaign would be ‘People Lagos’ and not ‘One man Lagos.’ “Their leaders control the local governments in the state, they appointed the councillors and rendered the local governments ineffective.
“What we have today is that the people are beginning to fear the government and we are taking a risk of tyranny.
“The JK you know has not changed. Those who voted for us in 2015 have not changed. We will beat them silly in 2019.
“They have shown that they have failed. They say I am their customer, but the customer is king and the ground is good today. By February, 2019, they would know that the game is over. We are ready for them, let the campaign begin,” he said.
Agbaje, who put the unemployment rate in Lagos State at 20%, promised to tackle the issue through improvement in education and support for small scale business owners.
On the debt profile of the state put at $1.4 Trillion, Agbaje promised to see to it’s repayment, while accusing the state government of not telling the people the whole truth on the debt profile, especially by not domesticating the Freedom Of Information (FOI) Law.
The PDP candidate also promised to tackle the issue of insecurity, while commending the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSETF) initiative.
He however, said that the issue of security would have been better tackled if there were Close Circuit Television (CCTV) all over the state, and promised to make this available once he gets into office.
On those who left the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) such as Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and the erstwhile chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Moshood Salvador, he said that nobody left with them and that they were lone rangers.
Commenting on why he kept contesting for the Governorship position, Agbaje said that his case is like that of a man, who wanted to woo a lady, he said that would keep going until he gets a positive response from the lady.
He used the occasion to introduce his running mate, Mrs. Halimat Oluwayemisi Busari, who he said would join hands with him to make Lagos State better for all from 2019.
