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The former Lagos
state governor, Bola Tinubu, yesterday blamed politics for the
stalemate in wage demand by the striking Lagos medical doctors and
advised the doctors to look for jobs with federal government or get
sacked. “Those people make me angry, there is no point dialoguing with
them again, sack them and recruit other doctors,” Mr. Tinubu said,
advising the state governor, Babatunde Fashola never to yield to
blackmail.

“We have provided a
conducive environment for them to work and yet they are still not
satisfied. It is not compulsory, you work for the state government, if
you are not comfortable, you can go to the federal government that pays
more or other private establishments.” The former governor made the
statement while soliciting the support of Christian leaders, who had
gathered at a meeting with Mr. Fashola.

He was especially
sad about the call for the reinstatement of Ibrahim Olaifa, the sacked
union leader of the doctors, whom he said was employed by him on the
recommendation of the then Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina. He said the
same Mr. Olaifa is now campaigning for House of Representative ticket
in Oyo State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party while
fomenting trouble in Lagos State. “We are not going to reinstate him
because the moment you subject the authority given by the constitution
to blackmail, you are finished,” he said.

Mr. Fashola also
hinted at the possibility of a political undertone because, according
to him, it is baffling that his administration has offered to implement
95 percent of the doctors’ demands, yet they insisted on 100 percent
implementation. “The most junior doctors in the state today have their
salary increased from N110,000 to N170,000 while consultants now have
their salaries increased from N300,000 to N700,000,” he said, adding
that, as the governor of the state, his salary monthly is N850,000
while other members of the State Executive Council do not earn above
N500,000.

Second term endorsement

At the meeting,
Mr. Tinubu urged the Christian leaders to support Mr. Fashola’s second
term ambition because “a vote for Fashola is a vote for progress and
development.” Mr. Tinubu said he is always amazed at how Mr. Fashola
has been able to, within a short period of time, transform Lagos state.
“Leadership is not all about religion. Rather it is all about
personality and character. It is all about action and vision. It is all
about putting people first. It is all about development. It is all
about you and me. We can see what Mr .Fashola has been able to achieve.
This is why we invite you to renew his contract for another term,” he
said, insisting that “Fashola is the best man for the job.”

He however believes that Mr. Fashola could have performed better “if
the federal government has allowed fiscal and true federalism to
thrive. Despite this, we are more secured than any of the states in the
federation. I am proud to be a father and brother of a successful son.
Fashola deserves a renewed contract.” Present at the meeting were
Christian leaders including the Methodist Church of Nigeria Prelate,
Dr. Ola Makinde and Secretary-General of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), Bishop George Amu.