These are not the best of times for former Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola. Following the release of documents revealing that he had approved a contract sum of N78.3 for a personal website, the former governor has come under cosiderable criticism.
Although he has since refuted the allegations which you can read here the worst is far from over.
The Coalition Against corrupt leaders (CACOL) renewed calls on the President to ensure that Fashola is probed. It is worth noting that Fashola pointedly mentioned CACOL in his earlier statement where he said, “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.”
CACOL issued a statement yesterday where it made references to some of the issues raised in Fashola’s statement. Part of CACOL’s statement reads, ‘We Don’t Mind Wrestling With The Pig As Long As It Produces The Pork,’ on Saturday, said if the former governor could justify the cost of his personal website, no matter what he used it for, then there might be many more shenanigans to be unearthed by the relevant anti-graft agencies.
He said, “The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines a “pig” as an unpleasant or offensive person; a person who is dirty or greedy. Based on this premise, leaders who deliberately run elitist, oppressive and draconian government can only be described by no other name, but pigs.
“A government that causes so much hardship to the largest stratum of the socio-economic ladder, whereas it engages in obscene affluence all in the name of white elephant projects that have no direct bearing on the suffering Lagosians, is nothing but a pig.
“It will be foolhardy for a man who requires pork to say he wouldn’t wrestle with a pig. How does he intend to get it? After all it has been said, ‘No willing pig provides pork; whoever desires pork wrestles the pig down for it!”
It remains to be seen whether any of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies will investigate the former governor.