FASHOLA DESCENDING INTO THE ABYSS OF INFAMY. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

        Of all the present and past governors in the Southwestern Nigeria, the present Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola remains one of my favourites. I fell in love with this man when he was listed among the best global thinkers. I took time to research about this dude and what actually it is about him that distinguishes him from the rest of our leaders.
     At a time, Colin Freeman, of The Telegraph, United Kingdom, touched a pleasant chord with me when he wrote that though Fashola 'famously claims to be "just doing his job" but has somehow won near-celebrity status for transforming west Africa's biggest city, cleaning up its crime-ridden slums and declaring war on corrupt police and civil servants!
     BRF as he's fondly called is simply one of a kind. Apart from being brainy, he's equally goal-driven and resulted-oriented.
    Over the years, hardwork and unwavering determination leads to success; continual success brings fame but fact is, not many people can manage fame. Some people having attained limelight suddenly become the opposite of what they have been known for.
    Fashola may have allowed his giant strides in Lagos State and past records get into his head because there cannot be any sensible justification for his actions in the last few months.
    For instance, early this year,  our own BRF publicly called his political opponent and PDP governoship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, a tax defaulter and claimed the pharmaceutical company owned by the fellow was owing Lagos State huge amount and it was only few days back that Jimi paid part of the debt.  Just few days after, Lagosians were shocked when in January, the Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi sent and signed a personal letter to Mr. Agbaje, commending him for his faithfulness in payment of taxes. This clearly showed BRF acutally lied considering the fact he's a lawyer and knows the consequences of such action.
    Just few days ago, same Fashola was quoted to have said, 'training Almajiri children has no gains!' This coming from a public office holder and till today, I have never seen anyone either on the social media or in the newspapers condemning this speech credited to Fashola.
     The real shock came again when he claimed the Presidency was responsible for the recent robbery attack in Lekki. This is one of the most irresponsible comments I have ever heard from a public office holder. He claimed the security operatives who were supposed to secure the area all went to secure the venue President Jonathan visited in same Lagos. If all the security operatives were engaged with GEJ's visit as Fashola claimed, how come 3 policemen where among the casualties?

     Meanwhile, if I'm not mistaking, Fashola made this statement at the APC Youth Rally held at Intercontinental Hotel which had in attendance Buhari, APC governors and other top party's officials. Is he fooling us that no policeman was deployed to the hotel in their hundreds? Or his hundreds of police attachment in his convoy couldn't have faced the robbers some close distance to the scene of the incidence. I think it's high time we quit politicising issues that concern lives.

   It's disheartening to see how money and politics could change a man we all admire and respect. Just imagined what a political party reduced a once respectable SAN to?
 An African proverb says when a leaf stayed longer in the soap, it becomes a soap as well. Fashola has stayed long enough in the system and has suddenly become one the regular Nigeria politicians.

IJEBU NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OGUN STATE: BETWEEN OTUNBA REMI ODUBOTE AND MR FEMI ODUFOWOKAN

           Late last year, 8th of November, 2014, one Wale Ifemi wrote an erroneous piece on one of the Ijebu North-East Local Government (LG) facebook pages. His piece is so much unintelligible and I tried very hard to actually understand his drift. He claimed the current Ijebu North-East LG boss, Femi Odufowokan is the most performing chairman while Otunba Remi Odubote's regime was the most corrupt regime ever.
     One of the things I have learnt about facebook is how to ignore low and uninformed minds. Some people are just too narrow-minded and irredeemably moronic and it's needless raising one's BP trying to whip a deadhorse. It's based on this fact that I resolved not to react to his piece yet we cannot leave people like him to form an opinion for the general public on issues they evidently are not equipped enough to handle.
      To say Odufowokan's regime is most performing is blatantly unfounded and saying Odubote's regime is most corrupt is wickedly ungodly! Femi Odufowokan is a very good gentleman and I honestly don't have anything against him and his office. It's just that in terms of performance, Otunba Remi Odubote and Mr Femi Odufowokan differ. In fact, based on unparallel achievements achieved by Odubote-led administration, one can boldly say she's the best chairperson the LG ever had.
      It's easy to criticize my analysis here afterall comments are free only the truth is sacred. Whoever therefore has an opposing view can clearly show who in the history of the Local Government has actually done better than this woman.
       Before analyzing her achievements, it's important to mention here that in my self-funded organization, affiliated with National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps, we have already compiled how much the current administration of Ijebu North-East LG got from Abuja since June 2011. Our people will ask this administration in the nearest future what work/project has been done with the billions allocated to our local government. Even if they escape scrutiny, history will not forget those who conspired to squander our collective wealth and the sycophants who shun the truth because of peanuts from these execuTHIEVES.
    For records, here are the giant strides of Otunba Remi Odubote while in office as the executive Chairperson of the LG:
  In her first term in office, succeded in constructing ten (10) blocks of two (2) classrooms each in 10 Wards of the Local Government. Those schools are still there till today and are being put into proper and effective use.
      The free surgical operations sponsored by Otunba Remi Odubote-led administration to which over 150 hernia patients benefitted from is still the first of its kind in the history of the Ijebu North East Local Government.
     Her administration constructed and equipped three (3) community health centres in Isonyin, Odedeyo and Ilese in addition to the ultra modern ones at Igbeba and Odosendora. Only God knows how many lives have been saved through using these institutions.
      It would be recalled that it was during this woman's second term in office that 8 befitting vehicles were distributed to some Obas in the Local Government. It was in the heat of these giant strides by Otunba Remi-Odubote's administration that Ijebu North-East LG was voted the best in the entire Ogun State.
   At this juncture, I want to humbly beseech Mr Wale Ifemi to hold me in the hand like a kindergarten and show me how many projects the current administration executed successfully since they started.