Cabinet Member Okays Fashola’s Probe

LAGOS April 27, (THEWILL) - A serving member of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s cabinet, Alhaji Abdulakeem Abdulateef at the weekend commended a group called True Face of Lagos for calling for a probe into allegations of financial misappropriation and impropriety brought against Fashola in an advertorial.

Abdullateef, who is Fashola’s Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, endorsed today the call to investigate Fashola, during an on-going ministerial briefing to mark the third anniversary of Fashola’s administration.

According to the SA, The True Face of Lagos should be respected like any other citizens or group. “There is nothing wrong with what True Face of Lagos has done. We should encourage group. If any individual or group has allegations, let them come with hard facts.”

He said the group could have approached the governor to register their views and complaints about his government rather than storm Lagos State House Assembly as the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji once said.

"But like the Speaker has advised them to deliver a copy of the allegation to Governor Fashola. The governor is accessible and has a telephone line which he keeps open to all Lagos residents," the special adviser said.

He explained that the House considered and passed 37 Bills into Laws while 13 Bills were still in various stages of consideration, ranging from First Reading, Second Reading Committee stage and third reading in the last three years.

Abdulateef added that his office initiated a programme to bring together the state and federal lawmakers as well as the entire Executive Council to deliberate on common issues and work towards a common policy incubation and joint action to the benefits of citizenry, recalling that the first of such sessions was the "Executive/Legislative Parley" held on April 4 and 5, 2008 at the Peninsula Resort, Ajah.

According to the special adviser, 115 participants including 39 State Legislators; 25 Federal Legislators, 33 State Executive Council Members; 12 Party Leaders and some top government officials attended the session.

Asked about the controversial coroner’s law, the special adviser explained that the law "has been amended by the state lawmakers and shall soon commence functioning. The bill has passed all the necessary stages especially public hearing, it only awaits presentation."