Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola says because of the bad economy in the country, 50 percent of the work force in construction industry have been sacked by their employers.

Fashola said this on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Rally in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Fashola speaks at Ibeju Lekki rally. With him are the APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode and his running mate, Professor Adebule

According to Fashola, he had recently embarked on a survey of construction companies in Lagos, saying that the result was shocking.

He said the result of the survey showed that 50 percent of construction workers had been laid off by their employers as a result of the despicable economic policies of the Jonathan administration, calling on Nigerians to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan.

“If Nigerians failed to vote out this PDP-led Federal Government on 28 March, more could follow soon. In the last 16 years, we have elected a bad government and party at the federal level. In the last 16 year, they have set our nation on the reverse. This is a crucial moment in our nation.

“When I became Governor, the dollar was trading at N115‎, in less than eight years, the dollar is now trading at almost N230 and we are importing. You see if we are exporting a lot of goods, it would have been good for young people because economist teaches you that you devalue in order to stimulate export of your own good, so that you can keep your industries running so that young people can have work. But you can’t devalue if you are an importer.

“Those of you who are going to Hajj and Jerusalem, you should be ready to pay more‎ than the money you paid last year. Almost times two of what you used to pay. This government said they have given you electricity, is it true? This government has lied about every issue that concerns your lives,” he stated.

“For me, I will not vote for Jonathan in the forthcoming election and I don’t advice anyone to do so,” he added.

Another photograph of the Ibeju lekki rally

The crowd at the rally

The governor also assured residents that the ongoing Lekki Refinery construction in Lekki would create about 8,000 jobs while about 2,000 engineers would also be employed to run the refinery when completed.

Fashola said, “Firstly, don’t sell your PVCs. On election day, troop out and vote, soldiers can’t tell you not to vote. Soldiers are equally hungry, they are not comfortable but they are also managing. Their wives are hungry, they don’t provide for them too. Soldiers are equally affected by the devaluation of Naira against dollar. Police are not paid, this government is fraudulent.”

The governor alleged that the President and his party had continuously lied to Nigerians on issues concerning them, saying that “they argued that they have given Nigerians electricity but they have not. They lied that they have not devalued the Naira but few days later, the truth on the devaluation was revealed.

“Now, when the fuel scarcity started, they lied that APC was responsible for the scarcity. But the Minister came out to say that the central government hasn’t paid the marketers. And all these show that the government at the centre has lied on every issue that concerns Nigerians,” he stated.