PVC: Don’t be frustrated, Fashola tells Lagosians

Following the perceived abysmal performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards in Lagos on Friday, the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has enjoined residents not to be frustrated in order not to risk their future.

Governor Fashola, who spoke after an inspection of ongoing projects in Ikorodu and Epe and while also interacting with residents on the distribution of the PVC by INEC in various communities across the state, said the evident lack of preparedness by the Commission should not be allowed to overshadow the love for democracy for which the state is known.

Describing as short term INEC’s evident lack of thoroughness and diligence as exhibited by the Commission on the first day of the exercise in the state, Fashola declared: “Our love for democracy must be bigger than the dissatisfaction that we are experiencing today.

“Our love for democracy is a long and enduring love. Whatever it takes, we must do it now so that we can get our Permanent Voters’ Card and we are able then, in February, to choose those whom we can entrust to act for us. If you get frustrated now, you go and sit at home; you do so at a risk to your future.”

On the reason for choosing Friday for the inspection, Governor Fashola said it was deliberate as it afforded him and his team the opportunity to both inspect ongoing projects and see how the people feel about them as well as see firsthand how the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card was going on.

“We have been planning this inspection before today but we just thought it would give us the opportunity to assess our work and see how it is going on and also to see how the Voters’ Card distribution exercise is going on. So it’s combining movement at the source, doing as much as you can in one go,” the governor told the newsmen.

He said when such an exercise as big as the ongoing distribution of Voter Cards is on, he does not sit in the office because, according to him: “It is all about people.

“So you have to go out to go and hear what they are experiencing, what they are feeling. Is the exercise going well?”

Fashola said since he and his team happened to be passing through the roads being built by the administration and communities where it is providing service, it was also expedient to check how they were going on and, at the same time, listen to the people about how the PVC collection exercise was going on.

“It is all in the day’s job,” he said.

Commenting on his impression about the inspected projects in Ikorodu and Epe, Governor Fashola said: “Well, the work is done. It is for the people and I asked them and they said it is good. I didn’t do it for myself, so my impression is of very little use. If the people for whom the work is done say they are happy, who am I to say no.”

The governor, who was accompanied by some members of the State Executive Council, including Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other top government functionaries, inspected the Maidan-Agiliti network of roads, LAMATA BRT Lane/Road Expansion (Mile 12-Ikorodu Road) and Awolowo Road Phases 1 and 2, all in Ikorodu as well as Marina Beach and Combined High and Magistrate Court, in Epe.