Your visit to Tinubu fruitless, Bode George tackles Lagos elders

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has condemned Lagos elders for allegedly failing to address the state’s pressing concerns during their visit to President Bola Tinubu.

He criticised their alleged failure to discuss infrastructure decay, unemployment and poverty, opting instead to propose taking over King’s College during their visit to Tinubu’s year-end celebrations in Lagos State. 

To any curious mind, George said such a visit would have presented an opportunity for the elders to discuss issues of utmost concern about Lagos. In a statement, yesterday, the ex-naval top officer said the elders should have prioritised rehabilitation of decayed infrastructure and job creation.

According to him, Lagos’ infrastructure, particularly roads and markets, remains in disrepair, while unemployment and poverty afflict hundreds of thousands.

George questioned the privatisation proposal, citing concerns about accountability and transparency, while stressing the need for programmes to lift individuals out of poverty.

He added that the President’s economic reforms were biting, particularly the soaring fuel prices, stating: “Nigerians should benefit from locally produced fuel. Reducing fuel prices to N300 per litre is possible with political will.”

George urged the government to prioritise human dignity and economic relief, emphasising the need for prompt action. His words: “I strongly believe it was also an opportunity for the elders to tell the President the true situation of things in the country. But to the chagrin of many of us, particularly Lagosians, whose expectations were high, nothing about the visit has been heard on what transpired between the elders and their host.

“It is a well-known fact that these elders are prominent Lagosians, from Lagos Island, the foremost commercial centre in Nigeria. The President also paid a visit to the palace of the Oba of Lagos at  Iga Iduganran,  while most municipal roads in the axis are in their worst state of disrepair. 

“I expected the elders to have made the issue of rehabilitation or overhauling of decayed infrastructural facilities in the state their utmost priority during their visit to the President.

“For instance, all the adjourning roads to the Oba of Lagos Palace are in their worst state of disrepair. Of particular attention is the ancient commercial area of Jankara Market and its adjourning communities of Idumagbo, Reclamation Roads and others, which have been abandoned for over 20 years, making life a living hell for the people. The elders should have discussed the urgent need to rehabilitate the popular Onola Mini Sports Ground, which helped in shaping our childhood lives in our growing-up days, from its present abandoned state. 

“The visiting elders from Lagos also missed the golden opportunity to demonstrate to the President the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the teeming youth population in the state, who are unemployed and economically stranded in their hundreds of thousands. They should have advocated for programmes aimed at lifting these individuals out of poverty through skills acquisition, in order to curtail the nefarious activities associated with social vices that have become prevalent across the state.”