Lagos State governor has come under heavy criticism from the opposition party for his plan to buy three helicopters.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has come under heavy fire after his purported plan to buy three helicopters for security and monitoring of traffic in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos state has decribed the plan as a conduit to embezzle money. The party described the act as fraudulent and wasteful venture and asked the state governement to explain to the people of the state what it had done with the two helicopters procured by the immediate past administration of Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
The Lagos PDP Chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle (rtd.), who made the party’s position known yesterday, advised the state government to instead make judicious use of existing personnel and equipment for proper management of security and traffic in the metropolis, which has taken a turn for the worse since Gov. Ambode was sworn-in over five months ago.
It will be recalled that Ambode, who was a guest on Soni Irabor Live (SIL) on Inspiration FM last week Sunday, said his administration had concluded plans to procure three helicopters in November to enable security agencies tackle criminal activities and to assist in monitoring traffic gridlock across the metropolis.
Shelle, however, faulted Ambode’s reasons for the procurement, saying the use of aircraft for surveillance where the personnel manning them lacked morale and expertise, would not work.
He said, “When we talk, people don’t want to take it that we mean well; they will take us as PDP. They say that we are only criticising. But we have been criticising objectively. What about the helicopters they bought before? Are they generating revenue for the state? Are they just for fun? Where are they located?
"That was how we made noise about the Sunborn Yacht Hotel some time ago, which disappeared into thin air. Up till now, they can’t account for the yacht.
“Now that they want to buy helicopters, what is the cost of running them? They are expensive to run and maintain; the pilots and the crew members have to be paid; at what cost and at whose cost? They want to use it (the procurement) to embezzle money."