Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday flayed the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for deeming it fit to hold its rally at the Gani
Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, one of the greening initiatives of the state
government which they had continuously described as “cosmetic and elitist”.
The PDP had last week Friday staged a rally at the Park as part of
Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose’s “Thank You” tour of Southwest
states.
Fashola, however, at the 2014 Tree Planting Campaign, held in Eti-Osa
East Local Council Development Area (LDCA), said the PDP, by their act, did not
only vindicate his government’s greening policy, but have also displayed their
inconsistency.
The governor, while expressing satisfaction at the success story of the greening
initiative and tree planting exercise, which has provided job opportunities for
thousands of youth, recalled that at inception, the PDP criticized the
programme and labeled it a waste of tax payers’ money.
He said the tree planting exercise and greening programme since
inception in 2008, has generated over 75,168 employment opportunities for
horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders, tanker drivers, security
personnel and other artisans.
“But our uninformed and unable, and I say so emphatically, our unable
opponents they criticised this initiative, they called it cosmetic, they called
it elitist. They clearly demonstrated their ignorance because the environment
is also the new economy, they are ignorant people, what they call cosmetic and
elitist, has developed our economy, it has created jobs and it has put food on
the tables of many people who would otherwise be unemployed”, Fashola added.
He also recalled that the PDP-led Federal Government had attempted to
stop the fuel subsidy removal protest by Nigerians in 2012 at the Park with
fully armed soldiers.
“Our opponents have no shame. In their unthinking inconsistency, it was
at the same Ojota Park, the same Gani Fawehinmi Park that they now chose to
hold their Party Rally last week. They lie, they forget what they say, what
they complain about, don’t believe them, have they forgotten that the Park was
cosmetic, have they now forgotten that the Park is elitist, or indeed are they
the true elites?
“For me, they have shown themselves up for who they are, a party that is
unworthy of trust and lacking in consistency.
“I feel vindicated because this initiative is consistent with Goal
number 7 of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and our party’s commitment to
sustainable environmental development. I feel vindicated because we have turned
environmental challenge into massive economic opportunity, I feel vindicated
because our opponents in their flip flop and in their lies and in their
shameful inconsistency have also vindicated me”, Fashola stressed.
Reminding residents that it was his last tree planting exercise as
Governor of the state, Fashola said the exercise has been institutionalized
with the setting up of the Lagos State Parks and gardens Agency (LASPARK) to
maintain and sustain the parks, gardens and trees.
“Our government and our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC),
remains committed to continuing this initiative, but you know now what our
opponents think about this programme, they have told you, so if you value this
job, if you value the economic benefit, you must vote to keep this programme
going, you must defend your livelihood and your jobs with your votes, may God
help you all as you do so when the time is right”.
Earlier, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello said over five million
three hundred and thirteen trees have been planted while over 297 sites have
been landscaped.
He called on residents to recognise the need to conquer environmental
challenges by planting trees, reminding that it is also an offence to fell tree
in the state without the permission of LASPARK