TUNJI OLANIYI
A former Commissioner of Public Transportation in Lagos State, Chief Lanre Razak, has declared his intention to contest for the Lagos East senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, promising quality representation and the reintroduction of a bill to accord Lagos special status by the Federal Government, if elected.
He said possible passage of the bill by the National Assembly and its enforcement will enable the centre cater more for the numerous federal infrastructures including roads, bridges and drainages most of which are currently in deplorable condition in parts of the state.
In a statement at the weekend, Chief Razak said apart from attracting federal presence to his senatorial zone in particular and the state in general, he would strive hard to give legislative support to the government of Lagos State under the hard working Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who has been executing people-oriented development projects in the state to the satisfaction of most Lagosians.
“I make bold to say that Mr. Ambode had performed extremely well beyond people’s expectations and as such deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements”, he said.
It will be recalled that the bill to accord Lagos State special status as a former federal capital, sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central in the Senate was earlier rejected by the lawmakers, a development that elicited outcry by the people of the state.
However, Chief Razak, who is also the Balogun General of Epe Land, vowed to continue the struggle if given the ticket of the APC and emerges victorious in the senatorial poll slated for February 2019.
His statement read in part: “I have no doubt in my mind that I will be able to use my knowledge, connections and experience to lobby my colleagues in the Senate and officials of various ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, I have known over the years, to attract more federal presence to Lagos State in addition to ensuring regular maintenance of existing federal infrastructures.
“Apart from promising adequate and quality representation, my immediate priority in the Senate if elected, will be to join forces with my fellow senators from the state to resuscitate the bill which will make the Federal Government accord special status to Lagos State as a former federal capital and Nigeria’s current commercial and financial capital in order to sustain its position as the driver of the nation’s economic growth.
“This is imperative because 27 years after the Federal Capital was relocated from Lagos to Abuja, the state has been left without much support from the Federal Government leaving most of the federal infrastructures like roads, bridges and drainages in deplorable condition.
“It may interest you to know that the demand for Lagos to be accorded special status is not out of place as New York City, a former federal capital of the United States of America, has been enjoying similar status since that country relocated its capital to Washington DC.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to specially commend Distinguished Sen. Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central senatorial district for her wisdom in introducing the bill to confer special status on Lagos State in the first instance .Though it was not allowed to see the light of the day in the Senate, I want to assure our good people that the struggle will continue until we achieve the set goal.
“I also make bold to say that Mr. Ambode had performed extremely well beyond people’s expectations and as such deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements. This is borne out of my firm belief that he needs credible and effective support from loyal and committed party men in the National Assembly for him to do more for the people of the state including my constituents in Epe.
“Similarly, let me assure our people that I am mindful of the great responsibilities ahead as recent political developments in the country especially defections in the National Assembly demand that only honest, trustworthy, reliable and God-fearing politicians with integrity who derive joy in serving the people should be given the opportunity to represent their constituents”‘.
Justifying the resolve of the people of Epe to produce the next senator after the eight-year tenure of the incumbent Senator Gbenga Ashafa from the Ibeju Lekki local Government area of the state, Razak explained that the position before now was zoned to each of the five councils that make up the senatorial zone, adding that the remaining three, Kosofe, Somolu, Ikorodu had taken their turns.
He said: “Since the other four councils stated above have had their turns, we the people of Epe local government area, because of our firm belief in the zoning arrangement and for the sake of fairness, equity and justice, are convinced that it is now our turn to produce the next senator for the Lagos East senatorial zone.
“It is against this background that I am offering myself for the position. I am convinced that I possess all the qualities, acquired a lot of experience and knowledge over the years as active participant in politics that put me in good stead to seek the nomination of my great party, the APC, for the Lagos East senatorial district ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“I want to appeal to members of our party at the federal, state and local levels to consider my intention to run for the position of senator as one borne out of my absolute commitment to strengthen and deepen democracy with a firm belief in the supremacy of our great party, APC under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at this crucial stage of our national development”.
