Anti-Ambode protesters storm Lagos Assembly, demand ex-gov’s probe

From Idowu Abdullahi, Lagos

Protesters  today  stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to demand the probe of immediate past governor of the state,  Akinwunmi Ambode.

The placards carrying protesters under the umbrella body of Lagos Youth Vanguard (LYV), called for probe of the ex-governor over alleged corrupt activities.

Some inscriptions on the placard read: “Ambode, submit yourself for probe,” “Ambode must be probed,” “EFCC do your job,” “Ambode is a thief,” “Ambode awarded fake contracts,” and “Ambode, return Lagos money,” among others.

Addressing journalists on the essence of the protest, the Patron of LYV, Mr. Rasak Olokooba, alleged that Ambode had been working discretely to disrupt the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration.

He also accused Ambode of leaving behind what he termed as ‘rickety’ handing over note.

“For every government that is going out, you leave a template for the coming government to succeed.

“Ambode handed over a very rickety handing over note that cannot assist the current administration.

“If you go round the state today you will see that there is no governor that would inherit such state and the people of the state would be happy with him, but thank God the goodwill enjoyed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is still intact if not, by now the people of Lagos State would have been complaining bitterly.

“Put all these things together and add it to what the EFCC said recently that they were going to conduct an investigation into the activities of the former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, you would see that we are right,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “Also, the parliament has promised us that they were going to look into the activities of the last administration, but we have not heard anything from them.

“I am a taxpayer, I pay education tax, I pay the salaries of the Governor from my tax and I must be concerned about how the money is being spent likewise other Nigerians.

“The former governor must be accountable for how he ran the affairs of the state in the last four years. We want him to clear his name. Gone are the days when people just hear of probe and you don’t take it up,” he said

Furthemore, Olokooba added that the LYV were calling for Ambode’s probe following  EFCC and the parliament discussion on it.

“We are the most populous black nation in the world and after Cairo it is Lagos among the most cosmopolitan cities in Africa.

“We don’t want anybody to mismanage Lagos. We want this to be a deterrent to others such as local governments chairmen, senators and others in public offices who might want to do what the last administration did.

“Look at the state of Lagos, people were complaining bitterly over the litters of refuse in the state though they are disappearing now. Look at Badagry Road, you would agree with me that you are also part of what we are doing today as journalists,” he said.

However, while addressing the protesters,  the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, commended the peaceful conduct of the protesters.

Obasa, who was represented by Hon. Rotimi Olowo stated that the protesters were exercising their constitutional right while assuring them that the House had commenced investigations into the government of Ambode and that they would look into the petition as a House and do the needful.