I have been acting in line with Gov Ambode’s instruction –Lagos LCDA boss

Ahead of the local government election coming up in Lagos State, crisis of confidence seems to have erupted in Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) as some politicians have accused the Council Sole Administrator, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, of working her way to contest the coming poll against the directive given by the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

It would be recalled that Governor Ambode, while swearing the Council Administrators for the 20LGs and 37LCDAs in the state, had charged them not to show interest in the local government poll, which date is yet to be fixed, but to focus mainly at developing their respective councils and increasing the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).

But Princess Adebowale, while reacting to the allegation, said there was no truth in it, even as she expressed surprise at the development, wondering where such could come from.

The Sole Administrator, while responding to questions from newsmen shortly after the Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the council, described the allegation as totally unwarranted, recalling that Governor Ambode had given a very, very clear directive that all 57 Sole Administrators that they could not contest the coming poll but should increase their IGR and prepare for smooth holding of the poll exercise “and I believe that is what I am doing.”

Princess Adebowale, who said the people had tagged her Margaret Thatcher and Mother Theresa within the few days she had been in office, however, declared that her political opponents should prepare for more of that if that was what was scaring them.

“Petition, well, I want to tell you that is totally unwarranted because His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave a very clear directive to all the 57 Sole Administrators that they cannot contest election.”

“One, they are to come here and increase their IGR and prepare for the oncoming local government election and I believe that is what I am doing because if I come here and I just sit down and look and don’t try to accomplish the task that is in front of me, how am I going to increase my IGR? How am I going to make sure that the people here are safe no matter how short I stay?

“My team and I have been very impressive, I have to commend them. I want to leave a positive mark. The person who succeeds me no matter how short I stay here should be proud about my impact in the council,” she concluded.