Nobody can accuse me of disloyalty – Fashola

In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews (Nation’s capital) … .

The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, was Wednesday thrown off balance while fielding questions from Senator in the ongoing screening of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees.

Fashola, who was the first on the list of those to be screened today by the Senate, was asked what was said to be a simple question by Senator Abaribe, who demanded to know what is his concept of loyalty.

The question, believed by many to be pregnant with meaning and in direct reference to his alleged strained relationship with the National Leader of the all Progressives Congress (APC) threw the former governor off balance as he struggled to provide an answer.

Fashola, who before attempting the question, was a delight to listen to, however stuttered as he obviously recognised that the question was a landmine.

Fashola contended that the concept of loyalty is a tricky one and prayed that his loyalty is never tested.

“The concept of loyalty is a strange one. I have always said that….. My real answer is that may my loyalty never be tried because it is a dangerous thing as you may be required to take a bullet for another person.

“I have always prayed that my loyalty is not tested. I have been loyal to causes all my life and nobody can accuse me of disloyalty”, Fashola said.

Read also: Screening: Lagos Senators endorse Fashola

The former governor also said the successes he recorded as governor of the Lagos State are things he could not take credit for, adding that they are all as a result of team work and the efforts of those who came before him.

He also defended the call for state police, saying there is a need for the decentralisation of the policing of the nation.

“The primary purpose of any government is the provision of security for the people. My recommendation is the decentralisation of the police. I have made cases for state police in the past but the argument has always been that governors may use them as a tool for abuse of political power. The question I asked is, how important is the abuse of power to the loss of lives?

“The states make laws but do not have an agency to enforce them because the federal police are busy chasing armed robbers.”

Fashola, in a humbling manner, also tendered an apology for the ‘deportation’ of indigenes of other states back to their states from Lagos during his tenure. According to him, he had to tender the apology in the spirit of national cohesion.

He again tendered an apology and asked that the matter not be stretched.

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