December 05, (THEWILL) – The Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC-PCC), has slammed Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over his remarks on Monday, in Lagos.
Atiku, while in Lagos on Monday, for his presidential campaign held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), had faulted claims that Tinubu, who was Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, built the State.
Addressing a crowd of PDP supporters, Atiku said, “53 years ago, when I came to Lagos in 1969, there was only one Carter Bridge built by the Europeans, no Second Mainland Bridge, no Third Mainland Bridge, no Tafawa Balewa Square, that was when I came to Lagos, all of you were not born then.
“Now, I want to tell you, this is a fact, you can go and check: the Federal Government built the Second Mainland Bridge, the Federal Government rebuilt the Old Carter Bridge, the Federal Government built the Third Mainland Bridge, rebuilt Agege Motor Road, rebuilt Ikorodu Road, all the major roads connecting Island and Mainland.
“The AD, ACN and APC governments have been telling you lies that they developed Lagos, they did not develop Lagos at all, na lie; they are lying to you.”
But in a swift response by the APC-PCC, in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Festus Keyamo (SAN), reminded Atiku that the Federal Government, which exited Lagos after the Orkar coup of 1990, left the infrastructure in Lagos to deteriorate while concentrating on developing Abuja.
Keyamo listed a good number of roads and outstanding projects conceived by Tinubu.
Typical of the roads Keyamo listed, include, Kudirat Abiola Road; Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; Akin Adesola Rd, VI; Adeola Odeku Rd, VI; Agege Motor Road; Ikotun-Igando Rd; Yaba-Itire-Lawanson-Ojuelegba Rd; LASU-IBA Rd; Ajah-Badore Rd; Oba Sekumade Rd, Ikorodu; Bourdillon-Gerald Rd; Lekki Expressway; and Adetokunbo Ademola Rd.
He pointed out that the Eko Atlantic was conceived and planned by Tinubu while the continuation of the project proceeded unhindered under Fashola.
The statement read: “At the scandalously scanty PDP campaign rally today in Lagos State, the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, decided to take the ignoble path of bare-faced lies by telling the people of Lagos State that the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did not develop Lagos State, but rather the Federal Government did.
“Let us remind Atiku ABUBAKAR that despite conspiring to seize the funds of the people of Lagos State as Vice-President of Nigeria, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu conquered that handicap by performing wonders as Governor and subsequently as leader of the ruling party of Lagos State.
“In more volatile climes, the people of Lagos State would not have allowed Atiku ABUBAKAR to step on the soil of Lagos State because of that ignoble role his government played to attempt to destroy Lagos, but thanks to ASIWAJU, today, Lagos is a peaceful place and a home for all, hence he could still come to Lagos to spew such lies to the people of Lagos State.
“Let us remind Atiku ABUBAKAR, that after the Federal Government exited Lagos after the Orkar coup of 1990, the Federal Government left the infrastructure in Lagos to deteriorate whilst concentrating on developing Abuja. It was after ASIWAJU assumed office in 1999, that he began to revive and rebuild the infrastructure in Lagos State.
“A clear example is the Bar Beach the FG could not contain in all their years in Lagos State. It was during the tenure of Tinubu that the idea for the Eko Atlantic was conceived and planned and the continuation of the project proceeded unhindered under Fashola, who has himself acknowledged the making of it to Tinubu.
“Others are the various high-calibre roads constructed by Tinubu, like the Kudirat Abiola Road; Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; Akin Adesola Rd, VI; Adeola Odeku Rd, VI; Agege Motor Road; Ikotun-Igando Rd; Yaba-Itire-Lawanson-Ojuelegba Rd; LASU-IBA Rd; Ajah-Badore Rd; Oba Sekumade Rd, Ikorodu; Bourdillon-Gerald Rd; Lekki Expressway; Adetokunbo Ademola Rd, etc.
“Agencies like LAWMA, HIGHWAY MANAGERS, LASTMA, KAI, CBD, LAGBUS, LASEPA, LASAMBUS etc were all launched to develop different sectors. These are verifiable facts.
“It is obvious Atiku ABUBAKAR and the PDP have their backs against the wall with the rebellion to and shunning of his campaign by key Governors and stakeholders in his party that has made him battle weary. Atiku ABUBAKAR is already showing signs of frustration.
“We advice Atiku ABUBAKAR to pack up his campaign to save his face rather than face the imminent disgrace at the polls.”