Fashola asks Lagos residents for forgiveness

From OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Outgoing Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has sought forgiveness of those he may have offended in the course of his eight-year stewardship.
The governor who appeared to be giving his valedictory speech during an event to mark his 2,900 days in office at the Blueroof Agidingbi in Ikeja yesterday said: “On a daily basis for 2,900 days, I was saddled with the responsibility of taking decisions on a lot of files, both in the afternoon, morning and night and there is no way I could have gotten all of them right. It is impossible. I took those decisions in the best interest of Lagosians based on the facts presented to me. To those we have not reached, I apologise to them. My successor, the new governor, will take over from me.”
Speaking on the achievements of his administration, the governor said he had delivered on the promises made to Lagosians on assumption of office on May 29, 2007.
“I make bold to say that there is no area of human endeavour that we have not touched. We have built modern hospitals across the state, constructed and upgraded roads, built affordable housing scheme (Lagos homs), created a new face of environment, provided employment and a new face of the economy, new face of transportation and perhaps provided an avenue for business to thrive through the introduction of the Security Trust Fund to secure the environment,’ he said.
Reacting to a question on the Apapa gridlock Fashola said: “It is a sad story of our nation. I apologise for the inconveniences the residents of Apapa go through daily due to the traffic caused by the tankers who come to that axis to lift fuel.
“And by extension, the traffic has spread to other parts of the state, especially Ikorodu Road. And if you can really avoid going to that axis, please do so. I urge you to listen to the Traffic Radio and get an update as you plan your journey. For me, if you can do that business on the phone rather than going to such a place, please do so.
“Specifically, Apapa is one of the many reasons people voted for change at the last elections. This was because it was an inappropriate way to transport petroleum products by road. They must move by rail. And the state government doesn’t control the importation and distribution of petrol in the country. It is a Federal Government responsibility. But the residents of Lagos are the victims of the circumstances that we don’t control. This is because the Federal Government is not doing its job effectively. I hope that we will be able to transport fuel properly over the next few years by rail and more importantly, I hope that we will stop the idea where the entire nation will depend on only one source for fuel.”
Source: Sun News
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