The Lagos Liberation Movement, LLM
rose from a special organizational session of its members across the nooks and
crannies of the State on Saturday in Ikorodu calling on the Speaker of the
House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to immediately reopen the House of
Assembly, which has been under locks and keys since 2018. The call became
imperative as Lagosians continued to anticipate the presentation of the State’s
2019 Appropriation Bill, to the Assembly for Consideration, by the State’s
Executive, led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The LLM is worried, that further
delay in the presentation and passage of the 2019 Budget, may be
counterproductive and lead to a shutdown of governance and economic activities
in the State.
The Movement noted that Lagos, which
is the fifth largest economy in Africa is at a palpable risk of slow down in
its developmental strife if the Lagos House of Assembly does not quickly
reconvene session to accept the submission of 2019 Budget proposal by Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode. It was observed with concern that since the return of democratic
rule in 1999, Lagos State Government kept the enviable record of being the
first amongst equal to submit its budget proposal before the last quarter of an
operational year and passage of same before the end of the first month of the
new year. This has no doubt been responsible for the seamless economic growth
of the State of excellence.
However, LLM is shocked to receive
the news that even when the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the State
wrote the Assembly last year for a date when the Governor would address the
lawmakers and submit the 2019 Budget, the Speaker responded that it would be
impossible to reconvene the House at any determinable date because members of
the House are currently busy with their various political campaigns for offices
in this year’s general elections!
This is not only reprehensible but
also highly condemnable and disrespectful to the indigenes and residents of
Lagos state. This is much more so when viewed against the background that the
over N1trillion budget is largelly targetted at meeting the demands of
Lagosians and promise of Governor Ambode to complete all the infrastructural
development projects like the Agege flyover, Oshodi Transport
Interchange, Lagos-Abeokuta BRT corridor among others, initiated by
his administration. It is trite to emphasize that the refusal to reopen the
Assembly and expedite the passage of the budget would not only affect the
infrastructural developmental strides but also equally provoke monumental
needless hardships and sufferings on Lagosians.
The LLM noted that the Speaker, Hon.
Obasa and many of the members of the House of Assembly are not acting in the
best interest of Lagos State that has bettered their lots, but rather working
in cohort with other elements outside government to rubbish if not retard the
developmental growth of the State.
The session called on well meaning
indigenes as well as Lagosians at home and diaspora to urgently intervene in
this emerging, seemingly logjam of the State’s economy before it is too
late.
LLM raised alarm that the House of
Assembly is working out a script by the purported political Godfather of the
State, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu and his cabal.
Investigations of the Movement
revealed that the cabal has set up a Special Committee that oversees the
disbursement of the State resources. Most of the disbursed funds are being
funneled towards prosecution of the campaigns of the APC annointed candidate
for Gubernatorial elections, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This is the reason why the
Speaker and House of Assembly are dillly dallying with the passage of 2019
Budget proposal, possibly to be delayed till after the first quarter of the
year.
Thus, it is manifestly clear that
the Hon. Obasa led House of Assembly, in conspiracy with these desperate
politicians, are implementing a grand, devious design to milk Lagos dry
for the Gubernatorial elections without recourse or respect for the
constitution or due process even passage of budget.
Should the Leadership of the State
House of Assembly refuse to answer this subtle clarion call to reopen the
assembly without further delay, we shall not hesitate to mobilise Lagosians for
the necessary legitimate actions, to compel a reopening of the House of
Assembly.
A word is enough for the wise!
Signed
Comrade Mark
Adebayo (Convener)
Comrade Femi Lawson (Secretary)
