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

As Lagos voters prepare to go to the polls for the last lap of the general elections nationwide, Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN, has advised the voters to make informed choices saying they should be guided by such questions as who among the contending parties gave them the best service in the last four years.

In an address to Lagosians Thursday, Governor Fashola said although each voter would eventually choose one of the contending parties to vote for, they should be conscious of the fact that they would in reality be voting for their wellbeing, security, prosperity and future as well as that of their children.

The Governor told the electorate, “As you go to the polls today, be reminded that you are going to elect the Governor who will continue after me and consolidate on the progress we have built together and you will also be electing members of the State House of Assembly who will make laws on your behalf to assist the Governor and his team in the Executive arm”.

“Think hard, think clearly, think deeply. Ask yourselves a few questions. Who has shown a better record and example of protecting and securing you between the political parties? Which of the parties cares more when disasters happen? What is the record of the parties as it relates to the promises they have made to you in the past?”

“You will also be voting for the future of your children. You will be choosing candidates and a party that you will entrust your lives to”.

Other relevant questions which the Governor posed to the electorates include which of the parties they saw regularly, which of the parties they saw when their life or property were threatened by epidemics like Ebola or by unfortunate accidents like plane crashes and which of the parties was showing that they could become home-owners without knowing anybody.

“Which party has responsibility for providing electricity for you, and which one is taking up the responsibility to light up your streets and communities at night? Which of them cares more about your children and their safety? Indeed ask yourself; which of the parties threatened you with thugs on that sad Monday of March 16th and which is seeking to protect you by supporting the police with patrol vehicles, fuel and other equipment?”, he asked.

The Governor declared, “Dear Lagosians, your choice of who to vote for will be easy if you answer these questions within yourself honestly. Indeed, you have clear choices to make between parties that use your resources to develop your society and community on the one hand, and the party that chooses to bring money to you for distribution when election beckons”.

Advancing reasons why Lagos voters should reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Fashola, who noted that the State once served as the Federal capital Territory, recalled the promise made by a former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, that Lagos would remain the nation’s commercial capital and one of its nerve centres.

He noted with dismay, “Remember that since the capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos 24 years ago in December 1991, Lagos has been abandoned by the Federal Government. Ask yourself when the last major new road in Lagos was built by the Federal Government. It was the 3rd Mainland Bridge completed in 1990”, adding, “This is not in accord with the spirit of the promise made to Lagos when the Federal Government first declared Abuja as the capital in 1976.

Governor Fashola enjoined Lagos voters to tell those who come to them with divisive statements to win their votes that Lagos was the place where the Late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya and Owelle Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe consummated the handshake across the Niger and played politics without bitterness and that Nigeria’s greatest strength has always been her diversity.

“Tell them that you feel safe here, and that I have continuously assured you of your safety as the basis of our mutual co-existence. Tell them that our waterways have been assets of prosperity and sustenance, for transport, recreation and fishing and they will remain so. Let nobody now attempt to re-write that history for you”, the Governor said.

He recalled that on Wednesday 18th March 2015, the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari came to Lagos and said Lagos would receive compensation for the role she has played in maintaining Federal Government Assets adding that on Tuesday the 7th of April 2015, General Buhari was also in Lagos on his first political engagement since he became President-Elect where he reiterated his commitment to support Lagos.

“This is what I will vote for. This is what I urge you to think about as you vote on Saturday. This is the place that every Nigerian calls his home. It is the home of displaced people. It is the place where the homeless arrive and are made welcome”, he said adding, “It is the place where generations of Nigerians have arrived without knowing anybody but have, through the opportunities and inclusion, become somebody”.

Urging voters to come out en masse to vote for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress “from top to bottom”, Governor Fashola declared, “That will be the most historic thing you will have done, putting Lagos in the centre with your votes. History and tomorrow beckons. Don’t turn your backs”.