A socio-political group, Forward Nigeria Initiative, has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s railway reform as dubious, insisting that the light rail project of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, is a much bigger achievement.

The President of the group, Mr. Lai Omotola, said during an interview with journalists on Tuesday that Jonathan had only been able to refurbish a few coaches and tracks but did not buy modern trains.

He also berated Jonathan for saying Nigerians were not taking trains before his administration, insisting that thousands of Lagosians used trains every day.

Omotola said, “Of all the things that Jonathan has been doing, which area can we say marvels Nigerians? He has talked so much about rail but the transformation of the rail he is talking about is the rehabilitation of the tracks that have been in existence since the time of our colonial masters.

“After rehabilitating the tracks, he put locomotive trains on it; that is not transformation. But if the rail was turned into high-speed rail, then that would be transformation.

“If you compare Fashola’s railway transformation with that of Jonathan in the face of the cost and its impact, what Fashola is investing in that blue line is far more impressive than what Jonathan claims to be doing across the country.

“By the time Fashola completes the blue line, you will see elevated tracks. The tracks will run across the Marina lagoon. That is real transformation. It means you can be in your office in a high-rise building in Marina and see train operating over the water. That is what we call transformation, not locomotives on rehabilitated tracks.”

Omotola said the people of Lagos should vote for the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, noting that he was more qualified than his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

He said that as a civil servant, Ambode performed well and could present his achievements for all to see.

He said, “Whenever a man wants to apply for a job, two things are important. They are qualification and experience. Experience is even more important because it cannot be bought.

“The only time an employer will not demand experience from you is when you are applying for the position of a trainee. So, how can we vote for Agbaje who has never held any political position before?”