The Lagos State Government has commended the distinguished
Senator representing Lagos Central Constituency, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, for
pushing the need for Lagos State to be recognized and rewarded with a Special
Status and Grant into the forefront of national discourse even if the import of
that request is lost on a number of her colleagues.
The State Government said in a release signed on
Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde, that history would remember Senator Tinubu kindly for her
thoughtfulness and courage in promoting the bill that sought a special
recognition for Lagos State as the commercial capital of Nigeria as well as one
per cent of federally generated revenue in view of its socio-economic
importance to the entire country.
The statement quoted Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as saying
that without prejudice to the decision of the Senate to stand down the bill,
Senator’s Tinubu’s informed position and push will remain an important
contribution as well as a reference point in the national economic discourse.
"At a time that our country needs courageous voices that
seek solutions that can benefit millions of Nigerians irrespective of where
they are from, what the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu has done is to
draw attention to how Lagos State can provide more succour to Nigerians being
the home to the largest assemblage of Nigerians. She has drawn attention to how
Lagos deserves to be assisted so that the state can further provide assistance
to millions of Nigerians. It is a pity that this import was not seen from that
perspective by the majority of her colleagues," the statement quoted Governor
Ambode as saying.
It stated that in spite of the set-back the bill
suffered on Wednesday, the fact remains that Lagos State has always played
a special role to Nigerians as individuals and to the country as a whole.
"The truth of the matter is that as the most populous
Nigerian state and the commercial heart-beat of the entire West Africa; a state
that would have been the fifth largest economy in Africa if it were an independent
country, Nigeria needs Lagos in order for other parts of the country to
continue to benefit from Lagos.
"A special status and a special grant are fair requests that
would have encouraged and rewarded Lagos State for what it contributes to the
federal purse. A yes for the bill would have provided an opportunity to truly
reflate the economy and empower Lagos State in serving as home to more than 21
million Nigerians and as hub to the largest volume of businesses and foreign
direct investments in Nigeria. But clearly, a spectacular opportunity has been
missed by ignoring this important bill."
The statement quoted Governor Ambode as adding that in spite
of the rejection of the bill, Lagos State would continue to be special and will
not be deterred in continuing to play the important role of serving as a
conducive and secure home for Lagosians as well as local and international
visitors where opportunities are limitless and lives and property are safe.
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