BY DAPO AKINREFON
THE Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola to adopt a more diplomatic, civil and honourable manner of addressing residents of the state.
In a statement by its state chairman, Mr. Tunji Shelle, the party berated the governor for threatening non-Lagosians to leave the state or be ready to face his manner of governance.
The party stated that “it is very unbecoming of the state Governor to be quick in asking non- Lagosians to leave Lagos State whenever such persons seek redress or demand their rights as Nigerians.”
It will be recalled that Mr. Fashola had warned that Lagos State traffic law and other laws must be obeyed and that those who are not ready to obey should leave the state.
While faulting the remarks, the party said “we are taken aback to hear a governor, lawyer and indeed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, threaten or make statements suggestive of ignorance to Nigerians.”
Gov. Fashola
It added that “under no circumstance can anybody, not even the president, deport any Nigerian from any state in the country. The right of a Nigerian to live and not be discriminated against is guaranteed under the constitution of our great country. No law can thus be made to frustrate or erode such guarantee. The Governor ought to know this and remain civil.”
The party, however, called on The Presidency and the National Assembly to call the Lagos State governor to order to respect the “sacrosanct right of every Nigerian to live in any part of the country,” adding the he should be advised against taking steps that can expose Lagosians outside the state to hatred.”
…They are playing ethnic politics – ACN
…They are playing ethnic politics – ACN
IN A swift reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said “PDP is playing cheap ethnic politics with the hope that it will wake their dead party from the grave.
“There is no truth whatsoever in the allegation and it is typical of PDP to relish in manuf- acturing and spreading gossips and falsehood about Lagos, hoping they would hoodwink Lagosians with these.”
In addition, he said “For the avoidance of doubts, Governor Fashola is accommodative of non-Lagosians in Lagos and has many of them in his government in high positions. He therefore cannot be threatening non-Lagosians.
“He meets regularly with non Lagosians to interact and rub minds on how to enhance peaceful co existence because he realizes that Lagos is a melting port for every Nigerian and he works to uphold this tenet.
“If Governor Fashola ever warns Lagosians who constitute menace to others, such warnings are within his constitutional powers as the Number One citizen of Lagos State. Such warnings are to all Lagosians and never restricted to non- Lagosians.
Igbokwe continued: “But Lagos PDP, desperate for straws to anchor their miserable political hopes, will go viral and twist these facts with the hope they will con unsuspecting non- Lagosians.
“It is a tragedy that a party that should be advertising its strong performance with power in the centre and majority of Nigerian states is not doing that because PDP has wrecked Nigeria…”
…Pleads with lawyers
…Pleads with lawyers
LAGOS — Meantime the governor has also emphasised how important it is for lawyers to collaborate with government to provide free legal services for indigent persons living in the state.
Fashola, who was a guest of honour at the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership Stakeholders’ Meeting in Lagos, noted that without the support of private legal practitioners, the dream of ensuring adequate access to justice by the state government may be unrealistic.
This was coming as the state Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye disclosed that the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership Stakeholders’ Meeting was aimed at improving access to justice and promoting law and order through the collaborative effort of the ministry of justice and private lawyers practicing in the state.
