PDP demands Fashola resignation over flooding

The Lagos state chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded for the "immediate resignation" of the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola over the flooding of most parts of the state on Sunday. The party also demanded an unreserved apology from the governor and the payment of adequate compensation to the families of those who lost their lives and property in the flood. The party's publicity secretary in Lagos State, Taofik Gani, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, where it sympathized with residents affected by the two-days heavy downpour. PDP described the disaster as "an avoidable trauma," insisting that the state government could have done more to prevent the flooding. "Contrary to the claim by the state government that Lagosians dump refuse and build on the drainage, the actual cause of the flooding is lack of proper drainage. It is uncomplimentary for the state government to accuse Lagos residents for its own negligence, dereliction of duty and maladministration," the statement read. According to the party, the state government had over the years failed to clear primary drainage in the state which resulted in last Sunday's floods. It also alleged that the blocking of waterways by construction companies also contributed to the flooding. More blame Blaming the government for the ongoing Eko Atlantic project, the PDP claimed that the unnecessary sand filling of lagoons, seas and the ocean by the state government also raised the water level of the ocean. The statement further lamented the frequent collapse of buildings and loss of lives in Lagos State as it blamed the continued collapse of buildings in the state on the inability of the state to punish government officials involved in the monitoring of building construction. The PDP then called on the state government to provide affordable housing for the people as a way of making substandard buildings unattractive. via Next