The PDP in Lagos State has rejected Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s claim that it will take N1 trillion to restore all properties and facilities destroyed by hoodlums during the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disagreed with Sanwo-Olu and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, on Monday in Lagos.
Gani accused the Sanwo-Olu-led APC government of “dishonesty and extortionate tendency”.
According to him, the act of inflating and over-costing governance in the state has now become a norm in the Lagos State Government’s service delivery.
“Our accusation is coming on the heels of the declaration by the state governor that the state will need N1 trillion to repair the destruction arising from the #EndSars attacks.
“The governor had recently told governors from the South West and ministers that the amount is projected for reconstruction purposes.
“The Lagos PDP believes that such a bogus and hasty amount can only be claimed by persons in government, who are likely to benefit from such proceeds.
“The party particularly raises the alarm that the money, as projected, is targeted at the restitution of known infrastructure and businesses of APC leaders and not honestly for all genuine victims per se,” he said.
The PDP spokesman, therefore, challenged Sanwo-Olu and the APC to make public the money to be spent and the beneficiaries, as envisaged by the governor.
Gani said: “The N1 trillion is bogus and extortionate. We specifically want to know whether the Lekki Toll Plaza is involved. This plaza should rather be demolished.
“The people will resist any form of approval for levy, over taxation or loan to make up the N1 trillion. We also put the House of Assembly on the alert to reject any bogus request.”
It would be recalled the #EndSARS protests in Lagos took a violent dimension on Oct. 20 when men in military uniform allegedly shot protesters who defied the curfew at Lekki Toll Gate.
The development sparked violence in Lagos and other states, as suspected hoodlums hijacked the protest and began to kill, loot, vandalise and raze public and private buildings and vehicles.
The palace of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, also came under attack.
