“When you wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty.”
This
statement of profound wisdom informed my silence in the wake of
manipulated and unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing recently being
levelled against me. They started a few weeks to the end of my tenure,
and have continued till date.
They
range from allegations of extra marital paternity of children, to
mundane and phantom conspiracy in the National Assembly, a debt profile
for Lagos State and lately a website upgrade contract of N78million,
which is being distorted.
In so far
as the allegations of paternity are concerned, they are wicked and
false. I have no biological children other than my two children.
Of
course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the
tragic DANA Airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due
process. Those who do not care whether they hurt innocent children or
invade the privacy of other citizens in their mindless rage against me
will have their rewards served upon them in the fullness of time.
As
far as my alleged involvement in the National Assembly elections are
concerned, they remain only the products of the imagination of those who
made the allegations. I was out of the country at the material time and
returned only in the early hours of that morning to Abuja, and from
there proceeded to Lagos.
As far as
debts of Lagos State are concerned, the fact is that Lagos had always
had depts. her population is growing and for a long time she has run
deficit budgets to cater to the needs of that growing population.
All
the debts contracted in my time were approved by the Parliament in the
annual budgets, some have been paid back and the financial status was
healthy and stable when I left. The outlook for the state and her rating
by Fitch was long-term foreign and local currency IDRs at ‘BB-‘,
short-term IDR at ‘B’ and national long-term rating at ‘AA+(nag)’.
When
we all pause and reflect and think, we will realise that there are a
sizeable number of companies who are running business, who have no
responsibility for Security, Public Health, Public Education and other
responsibilities of Government, who borrow more than Lagos State
Government, whether collectively or individually.
As
far as the website contract is concerned, yes there was a contract, It
went through procurement and was approved by the Government agency
authorised to do so.
One of the
services was an “upgrade” quoted for N12.5 million but awarded for N12
million. There were other services that were new; like a handover
countdown clock, mobile Apps for Google, for IOS and iPad, forMicrosoft
and for Research in Motion (Blackberry), which the existing website did
not have, as well as the annual maintenance cost of managing the
website.
It was for all these
services that the contract was issued for N78 million, which the Lagos
State procurement agency gave a No objection based on the advice of the
Ministry of Science and Technology, who are the Government adviser on
ICT matters.
In publishing this
Contract award which was the Government tradition under my watch, the
procurement agency’s website summarised it as “upgrade” only without
detailing the other services and this has been distorted by the agents
of hate as their suspected “smoking gun”.
For
those who are familiar with mobile applications, they will know that
users either pay for them online or download them for free.
What is usual is that applications for service are usually provided to users free, but somebody bears the cost.
Since
these applications were to be made available to the public for free
access and to assist Government communication, we decided to pay for
them.
The entire documents are with
the Lagos State Government and are available for those who seek the
truth. For the record, since 2008, long before the Freedom of
Information Act ever passed, we had put out our contracts on the State
website because people deserve to know.
It is regrettable that a “summary” of the contract has been deliberately distorted to misinform the public.
This
particular website came into being as a result of the decision I made
to make my telephone number public for the several thousands of people
seeking to reach me daily.
The
website that is now under attack helped me to do my job and to respond
to citizens, and the contract was issued to run till my last day of
office. It stands logic upside down for to “fraudulently” award a
contract and then have it published on a website.
To
date, there have been 27.666 million hits on this website with 1,844
videos, 34,381 photographs, 2,531 Press Releases and 595 Speeches, among
other items for public communication.
I
have chosen to make this personal response because as the head of
government at the time of the transaction, the buck as they say stops on
my desk and also because of the many calls, text messages and mails
coming from many people seeking clarification; and to prevent fiction from being mistaken for truth.
I
expect that there may be more distorted allegations without evidence,
for reasons that remain in the realm of speculation because, I have been
informed reliably that large amounts of money are being paid to some of
these agents to bear false witness.
I
cannot conclude without responding to the crusade of CACOL and their
ilk, seeking my prosecution on allegations that have no proof and
writing “pre-emptive” letters to the Presidency.
In
case they are unaware, I am not looking for a job. I expect them to
know that allegations of wrong doing are not resolved without evidence,
neither are they resolved in press conferences.
I have served my state, and by extension, my country for Twelve and half years and I did so with my heart.
I am taking the rest that I believe I have earned.
For those who still wish to remain in the mud, they should look in the mirror.
For those who wish to throw mud at me, they should look at their own hands.
As for me, I have moved on. My job is done.
Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN.
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