SHELLE, LAGOS PDP CHAIRMAN, IS AN EMPTY SHELL BY WALE ADEDAYO

Tunji Shelle

The Lagos State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Tunji Shelle, may not be a complete fool. But he certainly talks like one. There are a few people one respects among the PDP leaders in Lagos State. But this Shelle is certainly not one of them, given his utterances.

Reports quoted the man to have said that the Federal Government has refused to do projects in Lagos State because the Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, is confrontational. In what way? When did that start? Let’s even assume that Fashola is confrontational. So what? An American governor is confrontational and President Barak Obama will abdicate his responsibilities to the people of that state? How did this man become state chairman of the ruling party at the Centre?

But thank God that that this empty shell is opening up on some of the difficult issues that Fashola has been contending with – using Lagos State funds to do what the Federal Government is statutorily required to do, thus inadvertently creating problems in other socio-economic sectors of the state due to paucity of funds. It is an undeniable fact that President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP Administration has neglected not just Lagos State, but the entire South-West during his first and second terms. Federal roads in the South-West remain a mess. The tokenism being done on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has already been proved to be a pre-election gimmick targetted to win votes among the gullible in Ekiti and Osun states.

They often accuse former President Olusegun Obasanjo of sundry ‘crimes’. But it is on record the old man reconstructed and dualised the old Ota – Abeokuta Road. It was also Obasanjo, who effected a bypass on the ever-busy Lagos – Ibadan Expressway that cuts through Ishara from Ode Remo into Ago–Iwoye, thus the ability to access Osun State through Ijebu Igbo using the Four Roads Junction – Araromi Owu Road constructed by Obasanjo. The Ibadan – Ilorin Road stopped where Obasanjo left off. Ilorin – Jebba is NOTHING to write home about. The noise about achievement in the Power Sector is nothing but political 419 as the project remains that of the same Obasanjo, who effected the Papalanto and Omotosho Power Plants among others. Till date, there is NOTHING of substance ANY Yoruba can point to that Jonathan has done for the South-West under his PDP administration.

As prove that this empty shell (sorry, Shelle, because that’s his name) does not seem to have anything upstairs, he appears not to realise that President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP Administration has neglected not just Lagos State, but other states in the South-West for partisan political reasons, and concentrated on other places. And this has NOTHING to do with confrontation by ANY governor. This empty shell cited the ongoing road reconstruction and expansion of the Badagry Expressway as an example of where Jonathan would have come in to assist Lagos State, if Fashola had not been ‘confrontational’.

Is it not a shame that this empty shell did not realise that the road he spoke about is a Federal Road, thus the responsibility of the PDP-led Federal Government? Fashola’s Administration is not only expanding the road, but has almost completed a Light Railway along the same road. The road leading to Ikorodu Town has become a six-lane expressway and is almost completed by the same Fashola. It is a Federal Road, which begins from Jibowu terminating at Garage in Ikorodu. The empty shell appears unaware of this.

Let’s even forget about roads, for now. Internal security is 100% Federal responsibility, as it is on the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution. It is on record that Lagos State remains Number One when it comes to providing logistics and other assistance to the police and other security agents as if Fashola is required to be doing so. Funds are appropriated every year for the Police and other security agencies by the National Assembly. Yet, the same agencies are being funded by Fashola without appropriate commendation from the likes of this empty shell. The empty shell PDP chairman should go around police formations in Lagos State and behold the new modern structures being put in place by Fashola. It has almost everything they have in either American or British police stations. That, ordinarily is the responsibility of a responsible Federal Government.

Let’s even stop and think about this empty shell’s Gospel for a moment: In response to Jonathan’s alleged refusal to give Lagos State its due because of Fashola, what if the Lagos State Government targets the home and business areas of PDP chieftains in the state for underdevelopment? How will this empty shell react? The police being assisted by Fashola protects all, including PDP members. The roads being reconstructed and expanded are also used by PDP members. The hospitals, schools and water among other projects being given a facelift also benefit PDP members. Does this empty shell use different policemen or roads?

No wonder PDP has lost successive elections in Lagos State. This chairman is empty in the head. Lagos State PDP needs a new helmsman with something upstairs. Fashola deserve commendation, not abuses from persons applauding Jonathan for shirking his responsibilities. In other climes, what Jonathan is doing to the opposition states in Nigeria would have fetched him a removal from office. The least any responsible leader could do is to appreciate Fashola and not castigate him. The PDP in Lagos State should either call this empty shell to order or kick him out of office.