The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State chapter has called on incumbent Governor Akinwumi Ambode to publicly declare his assets on or before June 29, 2015 or face being labelled ‘Governor Pretender’ for the next four years should he fail to take up this oral challenge.
The party made this clear in a statement issued by Mr. Taofeek Gani, the state’s Publicity Secretary, on Sunday, June 14, 2015. The PDP urged the state governor to “personally make public in the media, his assets as at when sworn in as the present governor of the state.”
PDP in the statement said; “The governor is also asked to make public in the media, the details of the handover notes and assets of the past governor, Mr. Babatinde Fashola.”
“The deliberate neglect will however compel us and other well-meaning Lagosians to explore the relevance of the Freedom of Information Act on the matter.
“The PDP posits that the necessity for the present governor of Lagos state to make public his present assets is more ignited by the huge foreign and local debts of nearly a trillion naira now left behind by the past governor who has been linked to many personal bank accounts and property within and outside the country.
“Mr Ambode is under compelling moral duty to tell Lagosians what he presently has as assets. This is a spice to the requirement of asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Bureau. He must also not conceal the assets declaration of his predecessor,” the statement added.
Mr. Gani stressed that the governor’s asset declaration is necessary in that it would help him gain the respect and confidence of Lagosians who will see him as a “genuine servant and not a pretender servant.” PDP also stated the the June 29 ultimatum is to allow the governor enough time to voluntarily declare his assets.
“If he fails to meet up, we will join hands with other well-meaning Lagosians to confer the title of ‘Pretender Governor’ on him throughout his tenure.
“This new dimension to demand for asset declaration is provoked by the fact of sudden stupendous wealth the two last governors of the state have been linked to within and outside the country, even in the face of under performance and huge debts now left behind by especially the past governor,” the party said.
