Gbadamosi Outshines Other Candidates At Lagos Governorship Debate

Babatunde Gbadamosi, the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), surpassed expectations at the Saturday’s gubernitorial election debate to the surprise of the audience.

The gubernitorial debate, moderated by Victor Oladokun, British-Nigerian Christian broadcaster, was organised by The Platform, a civic discussion initiative of the Covenant Christian Centre.

The event had in attendance alongside Gbadamosi, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jimi Agbaje, the PDP candidate, and Owolabi Salis the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Gbadamosi, former member of PDP, spoke boldly and confidently at the debate of his plans if elected governor of Lagos state.

The aspirant received rave reviews for his performance, speaking eloquently and knowledgeably of the issues burdening on the state, from the angle of a private sector.

He used figures and data accurately, especially when responding to his opponent’s facts, dishing out the correct information.

Sanwo-olu had falsely stated that the state government was transparent and publishes its budgets, to which Gbadamosi pointed out that the state budget website no longer existed stating that the government is known for being opaque rather than open.

He said if elected into office he would operate an open government.

Gbadamosi said for his first hundred days in office if elected, he would try increasing the salaries of civil servants in the state.

He continued saying that his priority will be to boost the infrastructural shortfall of the state by building rail lines to all the exit points of the state, opening up water transportation and the movement of container by barges instead of through the roads to cut the infamous Lagos traffic.

The ADP candidate, who berated the ruling party in the state for lack of prudence in running the state finances, said he would bring his experience from the private sector in handling the spending of state funds.

According to him, he would be able to do this because he “does not have a godfather”, which was a snide remark on the candidate of the ruling APC, Sanwo-Olu, who enjoys the backing of a former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, generally believed to be the de facto political leader of the state.

He berated the current government for being unable to complete its light rail project in 10 years and wondered why the state was paying for it from its purse when it could have welcomed the private sector to finance the project. He also said at a cost of almost $1 billion, the light rail project was too expensive.

He said he would open up the state waterways and improve tourism as a means of growing the state tax revenue if elected into office.