Group advocates FCT ministerial post for Fashola

Conscious of the peculiarity of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, where elections are not held for governor and state legislators, some concerned Nigerians, made up of people living in and outside of the city, have demanded for the appointment of former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola as Minister for FCT.

Speaking under the aegis of Gateway for Empowerment and Justice for Peace Initiative (GEJPI), the group at a media briefing in Abuja at the weekend said with requisite experience and records of performance in maintaining sustained economic growth and unprecedented infrastructure development in the last eight years in Lagos State, it is only appropriate that Fashola be allowed to turn Abuja into a mega city like other international capital cities.

The media was briefed after the organisation’s national summit in Abuja by its National Vice-Chairman Engr. Jide Cole (MNSE), who said, “We are aware that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and our President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari are determined to bring on board the best technocrats and administrators into the new government, and that even Governor Fashola’s name has been mentioned as potential cabinet members; but we are determined to raise our voice to advocate the proper placement of talents accordingly, square pegs in square holes.

“Governor Fashola is best suited to become the next Minister of the Federal Capital Territory because as a New Nigeria dawns under General Buhari, we as Nigerians are ripe for a Mega Capital. The truth is that as Abuja stands today it is not a place of pride as the capital of a Giant of Africa.

“There is so much decadence in the FCT which does not befit a capital territory. The picture today is that of zero law and order as people litter the city, disobey traffic rules and even drive one-way against traffic. Ironically, when foreigners come to Abuja the picture they see here sets their overall image of the country.

“Being the first entry point for most diplomats, tourists, potential investors and foreign dignitaries, it should meet up to a certain global standard which Fashola has proved he can do by the way he transformed Lagos. It is on record that in Lagos, in the SouthWest region and Nigeria as a whole Fashola remains a reference point in 21st century governance”.

The social crusader also told journalists that his group wants to see an FCT that would develop as fast as any other global destination while depending on little funding from the central government as Fashola was able to achieve in Lagos for the past eight years he has held the reign of leadership in that densely populated city that turned to a mega city in a rapid form of “grass to grace”.

“Fashola performed development miracle in Lagos. The FCT does not have a governor and so residents lack the power to elect who governs FCT residents, if they do, we are convinced that the Abuja residents would speedily elect Fashola to lead them.

“But in any case, appointing him as FCT minister will have the multiple advantage of ensuring that someone with sound pedigree and great antecedents is put in charge; giving residents a minister with listening ear and also giving the President peace of mind because of Fashola’s dependability. We are all witnesses to the amazing synergy he enjoys with the former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.