As Nigeria welcomes the ministerial list sent to the National
Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, some
concerned citizens have called on him to post one of the
nominees, former Governor Babatunde Fashola, to either
Ministry of Transport or of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), “where he will be a square peg in a square hole.”
Speaking under the aegis of Gateway for Empowerment and
Justice for Peace Initiative (GEJPI), the group at a media
briefing in Abuja said with requisite experience and records
of performance in maintaining sustained economic growth
and unprecedented infrastructure development in the last
eight years in Lagos State, it is only appropriate that Fashola
be allowed to use his gift and talent to serve Nigeria in either
Ministry of FCT or Transport.
The group said the role of transportation in the economic,
political and social development of any nation cannot be
over-emphasized as it is the sector that connects all the other sectors of the economy; and therefore because Fashola has transformed the transportation sector of Lagos State, he is best qualified to be the minister of transport among the ministerial nominees.
Leader of the group, Jide Cole (MNSE), said: “Fashola
oversaw the rail line system being put in place now in Lagos, he established Lagos State Waterways Authority for water transportation, and Developed the BRT for road transport in Lagos, which have eased the many troubles experienced by the highly populated former capital city over the decades.
“We at GEPJI are aware that President Muhammadu Buhari
is determined to bring on board the best technocrats and
administrators into the new government, and has released the first batch of men and women who shall help him run the government; and that Governor Fashola’s name is in the list of ministerial nominees.
“We are determined to raise our voice to advocate the proper placement of talents accordingly, that the ministerial nominees be given portfolios where they have competence and have proved so over the years; we demand square pegs in square holes.
“Governor Fashola is best suited to become the next Minister of the Federal Capital Territory or the next Minister of Transport; this is because as a New Nigeria dawns under
President Buhari, we as Nigerians are ripe for a modern
nation with a modern capital and a modern transportation
infrastructure. These are what we need to become the giant of Africa.
“There is so much decadence in the FCT which does not befit
a capital territory. The picture today is that of zero law and
order as people litter the city, disobey traffic rules and even
drive one-way against traffic.
Ironically, when foreigners
come to Abuja the picture they see here sets their overall
image of the country.
“Being the first entry point for most diplomats, tourists,
potential investors and foreign dignitaries, it should meet up
to a certain global standard which Fashola has proved he can do by the way he transformed Lagos. It is on record that in Lagos, in the South West region and Nigeria as a whole Fashola remains a reference point in 21st century
governance.”
The social crusader also told journalists that his group wants to see the transportation sector of the country develop in quantum leaps.
He went on: “The role of transportation in the economic, political and social development of any nation cannot be over-emphasized as it is the sector that connects all the other sectors of the economy.
