Dr. Kazeem Bello, the Principal Partner/Chief Executive Officer of Afrique Capital and Equity Funds Ltd, New York, USA, said it would be wrong for the Governor to use public funds to compensate the victims of an accident when the owners and insurance company of the helicopter should be made to bear such responsibility.
According to Dr. Bello, who is also President, Nigerians in Diaspora, NIDO, New Jersey chapter and Chairman, Steering Committee of the proposed Nigeria Federal Credit Union, though the Governor should be commended for visiting the scene of the accident and fraternizing with the 90 year old that miraculously survived the ordeal, he should withdraw his promise to renovate the damaged structures and instead, encourage the affected parties to file claims against the owners of the chopper and their insurance company.
He said the incident was not a natural disaster but an accident and that the helicopter in question does not belong to the state government, wondering why the Governor should step in to use public funds for claims that should already be covered by insurance.
While acknowledging the governor’s hard work in the state so far, Bello said that though Sanwo-Olu may have meant well and acted in good faith, there is need to caution him against making political statements or promises such as the pledge to renovate the buildings damaged by the helicopter as such may create room for corruption in future, stressing also that such totally negates the principles of probity and use of public funds
According to Bello, besides the possibility of such becoming state policy or the privilege being abused in future, Lagos State has a lot of pressing needs and limited resources hence every available fund should be well channeled.
He stressed that if he must, the Governor can bring the weight of his office to bear on efforts to get the insurance company to pay for the damages done to the property of residents of the state whose interest he has sworn to protect.
