PDP Defends Sanwo-Olu’s Rail Project, Warns Itse Sagay Not To Meddle In Lagos Affairs

The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday expressed support for the rail ‘red line’ project embarked upon by the All Progressives Congress administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying it is a desirable project.

The party also warned the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), to desist from interfering in the affairs of Lagos State as he has no moral right to do so.

The PDP said the PACAC lacks the moral justification to dictate to the Governor Sanwo-Olu what projects to execute.

Sagay had said it made no sense for Governor Sanwo-Olu to embark on the rail ‘red line’ project when the Blue Line started almost 10 years ago is yet to be completed.

However the PDP, speaking through Taofik Gani, its Publicity Secretary, said Sagay should concentrate on his job as PACAC chairman and leave the governor to decide what is best for his people.

According to the party, Sagay, who has a cordial relationship with Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing failed to speak out when Fashola, as governor of Lagos State failed to account for monies spent on the project till he completed his tenure as governor.

“Without holding fort for Governor Sanwo-Olu, the truth of the matter is that Prof. Itse Sagay lacks the moral justification to come up at his own will and criticize the government. This is the same person who is supposed to be in charge of a thorough anti-corruption drive but he has clearly abandoned that . He only criticizes the government when it is obviously against his interest.

“We know that the Blue rail from the beginning was a complete fraud. It was a project that was started with less than N6billion and now it is over N46billion . During Fashola’s era, the governor couldn’t account for the funds spent on that project, yet Prof. Sagay kept mute because of his close relationship with Fashola.

“There is no reason why he will now come and condemn the actual needs of Lagosians within the metropolis. We are talking of Oyingbo, Alagbado and other places. Look at the number of people who transit in that particular area.

“We condemn the attempt by Prof. Sagay to want to be the spokesman for Lagosians on what projects they want or do not want. We condemn his hypocritical stand on this issue. He should come out and condemn President Buhari and others who have put us in this mess.

“We say it loud and clearly that Prof. Sagay is a beneficiary of the APC and government and he can’t be criticizing a project that will benefit Lagosians. Why will he say Fashola’s projects must be completed? How many projects did Fashola himself complete and why couldn’t he account for those funds when his successor demanded for it? In a saner clime, Fashola ought to be with EFCC now, not as a Minister of the Federal Republic.

“We however demand that Governor Sanwo-Olu must return to make fair presentation to interested parties. Every kobo must be supervised and accounted for. The monitoring team can have CSO. Why should any government even be scared of an “Ombudsman” on projects executed with Tax and Loans”.