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| Lagos Ex-Governor, Babatunde Fashola |
Here is
former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s full statement on the various
allegations against him, his fathering a set of twins outside wedlock, his
legacy of huge debts to Lagos state and the controversial N78.3 million spent
on a website, www.tundefashola.com
THE FULL TEXT OF THE FASHOLA’S STATEMENT
“When you
wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty.” This statement of
profound wisdom informed my silence in the wake of manipulated and
unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing recently being levelled against me.
They
started a few weeks to the end of my tenure, and have continued till date. They
range from allegations of extra marital paternity of children, to mundane and
phantom conspiracy in the National Assembly, a debt profile for Lagos State and
lately a website upgrade contract of N78 million, which is being distorted.
In so far
as the allegations of paternity are concerned, they are wicked and false.
Children Out Of Wedlock
I have no
biological children other than my two children.
Of
course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the tragic
DANA Airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due process. Those who do
not care whether they hurt innocent children or invade the privacy of other
citizens in their mindless rage against me will have their rewards served upon
them in the fullness of time.
NASS
Election
As far as my alleged involvement in the National Assembly elections are concerned, they remain only the products of the imagination of those who made the allegations. I was out of the country at the material time and returned only in the early hours of that morning to Abuja, and from there proceeded to Lagos.
As far as my alleged involvement in the National Assembly elections are concerned, they remain only the products of the imagination of those who made the allegations. I was out of the country at the material time and returned only in the early hours of that morning to Abuja, and from there proceeded to Lagos.
LAGOS
DEBT
As far as
debts of Lagos State are concerned, the fact is that Lagos had always had
debts. Her population is growing and for a long time she has run deficit
budgets to cater to the needs of that growing population. All the debts
contracted in my time were approved by the Parliament in the annual budgets,
some have been paid back and the financial status was healthy and stable when I
left. The outlook for the state and her rating by Fitch was long-term foreign
and local currency IDRs at ‘BB-‘, short-term IDR at ‘B’ and national long-term
rating at ‘AA+(nga)’.
When we
all pause to reflect and think ,we will realise that there are a sizable number
of companies who are running business, who have no responsibility for Security,
Public Health, Public Education and other responsibilities of Government, who
borrow more than Lagos State Government, whether collectively or individually.
N78.3
MILLION WEBSITE CONTRACT
As far as the website contract is concerned, yes there was a contract. It went through procurement and was approved by the Government agency authorised to do so. One of the services was an “upgrade” quoted for N12.5 million but awarded for N12 million. There were other services that were new; like a handover countdown clock, mobile Apps for Google, for IOS and ipad, for Microsoft, and for Research in Motion (Blackberry), which the existing website did not have, as well as the annual maintenance cost for managing the website.
As far as the website contract is concerned, yes there was a contract. It went through procurement and was approved by the Government agency authorised to do so. One of the services was an “upgrade” quoted for N12.5 million but awarded for N12 million. There were other services that were new; like a handover countdown clock, mobile Apps for Google, for IOS and ipad, for Microsoft, and for Research in Motion (Blackberry), which the existing website did not have, as well as the annual maintenance cost for managing the website.
It was
for all these services that the contract was issued for N78 million, which the
Lagos State procurement agency gave a No Objection based on the advice of the
Ministry of Science and Technology, who are the Government adviser on ICT
matters.
In
publishing this Contract award which was the Government tradition under my
watch, the procurement agency’s website summarised it as “upgrade” only without
detailing the other services and this has been distorted by the agents of hate
as their suspected “smoking gun”. For those who are familiar with mobile
Applications, they will know that users either pay for them online or download
them for free. What is usual is that applications for service are usually
provided to users free, but somebody bears the cost. Since these applications
were to be made available to the public for free access and to assist
Government communication, we decided to pay for them.
The
entire documents are with the Lagos State Government and are available for
those who seek the truth. For the record, since 2008, long before the Freedom
of Information Act was ever passed, we had put out all our contracts on the
State website because I believe people deserve to know. It is regrettable that
a “summary” of the contract has been deliberately distorted to misinform the
public.
This
particular website came into being as a result of the decision I made to make
my telephone number public for the several thousands of people seeking to reach
me daily. The website that is now under attack helped me to do my job and to
respond to citizens, and the contract was issued to run till my last day of
office. It stands logic upside down for to “fraudulently” award a contract and
then have it published on a website.
To date,
there have been 27.666 million hits on this website, with 1,844 videos, 34,381
photographs, 2,531 Press Releases and 595 Speeches, among other items of public
communication. I have chosen to make this personal response because as the head
of government at the time of the transaction, the buck as they say stops on my
desk and also because of the many calls, text messages and mails coming from
many people seeking clarification and to prevent fiction from being mistaken
for truth. I expect that there may be more distorted allegations without
evidence, for reasons that remain in the realm of speculation, because, I have
been informed reliably that large amounts of money are being paid to some of
these agents to bear false witness.
I cannot conclude without responding to the crusade of CACOL and
their ilk, seeking my prosecution on allegations that have no proof and writing
“pre-emptive” letters to the Presidency. In case they are unaware, I am not
looking for a job. I expect them to know that allegations of wrong doing are
not resolved without evidence, neither are they resolved in press conferences.
I have served my state, and by extension, my country for Twelve and half years
and I did so with my heart. I am taking the rest that I believe I have earned.
For those who still wish to remain in the mud, they should look in the mirror.
For those who wish to throw mud at me, they should look at their own hands. As
for me, I have moved on. My job is done.
*Babatunde Raji Fashola
*Babatunde Raji Fashola
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