Chief Lanre Razak, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is optimistic that Lagos State would attain the required special status under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Razak, who was one time Commissioner for Public Transportation in Lagos, hinged his optimism on the cordial relationship between the Presidency, the National Assembly and the Lagos State government.
In this chat with newsmen, the Epe, Lagos State born high chief also spoke on other sundry issues of national interest, including the 2023 general election, rumoured presidential ambition of APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC’s effective crisis resolution mechanism, among others. Razaq Bamidele was there.
How hopeful are you over the attainment of Special Status by Lagos State under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration?
I am very optimistic that Lagos State would soon attain a Special Status it deserves under the current APC federal administration.
As a member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, I can tell you with a level of confidence that, with some of the developments in the state coupled with the friendly National Assembly, the state is moving closer to attaining the status.
READ ALSO:http://We want investment, not bloodbath over land dispute – Ekiti govt tells communities
The situation is very clear and even clearer now. Lagos as an APC state has achieved a lot. One, the Federal Government House at Marina has been transferred to Lagos State. All the outstanding bills for roads repaired on behalf of the Federal Government had been paid, except the new ones embarked on in recent time.
In the last 10 years, Lagos State has appealed for Federal Government’s support and approval of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to continue the deep sea projects at Lagos Free Trade Zone in Ibeju Lekki and Badagry, which was not given. But under this administration, we are doing fine and our developmental efforts are being fast-tracked. And they will do more.
All these are clear indications that Lagos State is gradually moving towards attaining the required Special Status we are all yearning for in the interest of all and sundry. And going by the magnanimity of President Muhammadu Buhari, our aspiration for the status would soon become a reality.
Nigerians should therefore continue to appreciate God for giving us Muhammadu Buhari at a time the country needed a Messiah badly. We should therefore double our supports for him so that he could be encouraged to continue the good work he has started over four years ago.
I also want to appeal to the citizenry to desist from any act that can distract the President from being focused. Leaders can only perform well when having the right mood in a peaceful environment since no development can take place in a rancorous and chaotic atmosphere.
As a member of GAC, how would you react to the father figure posture of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State and insinuations from some critics who allege that Lagos State has been pocketed by him?
It is regrettable that, with all the good works Tinubu has been doing for humanity and party politics, some people don’t see anything commendable about the man. We have a lot of armchair critics who don’t see anything good in whatever Tinubu does. Can you mention any state that has stable governance and continuous development like Lagos? This is because Tinubu has been playing the role of a leader, such that during his tenure as governor, he laid a standard structure for the state to continue on the path of growth and development. He is a wonderful man that is naturally gifted in human capital development.
Look at the political terrain in Nigeria today, you will hardly find the likes of Tinubu around. Those he worked hard to develop are now giving back to the country. Those who know what Tinubu means for Nigeria have continued to defend him, letting others understand that Tinubu is naturally gifted and he is impacting knowledge and ability on others.
With all your observations on Tinubu, do you see him contesting for the presidency in 2023?
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, I can declare that Tinubu is the best material the South West can produce, if he declares to contest. What Nigeria needs is the best material for the job and for the best material to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. The APC national leader still stands shoulder higher than most of the people being canvassed for.
Do you mean even with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo
With due regard and respect to our brother, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, he is a lawyer of fine reputation, but nobody would have known him in the political circle if Tinubu had not found and built him. What Nigerians often say is that leadership is the bane of our development. If we then discover a good leader with all the quality to deliver, we should put religion out of it. We need to talk of how we can have a country where there is peace, development and appropriate infrastructure.
Tinubu is a tested person at the state level and in business circles, and he is a man that has the capacity and rigour of running a nation. He is my candidate and we are appealing to him to please come out and serve his country, and I am sure he will accept the offer.
How can the south west harmonize ahead of 2023 to present a formidable candidate without rancour?
There is no region all over the world that does not have crisis when talking about the acquisition of power. It is believed that power is never served as food in the restaurant. People struggle and work to get what they need. We are aware of what people are saying and I can assure you that we have sufficient crisis management mechanisms that the leadership of the party will deploy at the appropriate time. What you consider as crisis may be our strength to get things done.
READ ALSO:http://Bishop Kukah’s truth to power on insecurity
Are you comfortable with Lagos State’s rising debt profile even as some people argue that the IGR and federal allocation are sufficient to address the challenges, instead of going for loans?
It is very easy to cross the river on the map. Those saying so do not know what the money is being used for and the exact amount the state is spending. I can tell you authoritatively that the people in government today are very prudent with public fund and are applying it to the best interest of Lagosians. So, we don’t need to worry and no need for anybody to be crying than the bereaved. We have given the mandate to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we know him too well before we did that. He and his team are doing very serious financial re-engineering of funds and resources available to the state.
Lagosians need to understand that those who extend credit to Lagos State government strongly believe in the state’s ability to repay. Another good thing to consider is the economic benefit of the projects that would be executed with the loan. If we don’t borrow today, the cost may be twice, when the projects are to be executed later. So, it is logical, reasonable and economical to borrow and it is good for the state.
