Date Published: 09/09/09
9th September 2009. Press Release.
LAGOS AC BERATES DPA FOR MAKING FALSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT.
The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress has dismissed as reckless, cheap and tendentious the allegation of the Lagos State DPA that the present Lagos State government is violating human rights of Lagosians and is guilty of other allegations. The party says that at this stage, every Nigerian has recognized that what the Lagos State government needs is the encouragement to continue the wonderful transformational works it is doing than the belly-aching of frustrated politicians that are seeking for relevance.
In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the AC, Joe Igbokwe, Lagos AC said that the allegations the DPA leveled against the Lagos State government are not factual and are mere efforts by the DPA to leverage on the natural fallout of the commendable transformation works going on here in Lagos to gain undeserved political advantage and that it would not be granted such pleasure. The party wondered which reasonable party will prefer the mere fantasies of growth in a slum just because it feels that a state like Lagos need not take decisions that will benefit the whole even when it discomforts a few..
"We wonder which right thinking individual or right thinking party will allege human rights violation on a state that has checked the age-old menace of area boys, recovered all black spots, cleaned them up and made them safe for all, chased armed robbers out of Lagos. It is obvious that in its haste to score cheap political points, Lagos DPA is now crusading for the rights of armed robbers and hooligans over those of law abiding Lagosians who are well pleased with what is happening in Lagos presently.
"Lagos State government is not operating any illegal prison, as alleged by the DPA and has not detained anybody who has not ran foul of the laws of the state and that of the country. Every Lagosian knows of the guiding rules and regulations existing in Lagos, especially as they concern environmental sanitation. Even as we doubt the sincerity of the DPA's claim that 39 youths were arrested in a football field in Gbagada and fined N10,000 each, the DPA never explained what the youths were charged of. Did they violate sanitation rules that are well known to all and sundry? The DPA should explain these to its audience than trying to curry illicit gains from peddling falsehood.
“Lagos AC notes that the Fashola regime in Lagos is a stickler to law and discipline and DPA should do well to explain issues and circumstances as they happened instead of patronizing desperate sensationalism. KAI Brigade is a para military force that helps in enforcing discipline especially environmental discipline. It has well advertised modes of operation and while some of their members have been identified and punished where they infringe on the rights of Nigerians, DPA should cease from inciting Lagosians to become unruly and undisciplined so that it will grow whatever political interest it has. This government has always encouraged Lagosians to report errant members of KAI and LASTMA and any other state agency and has provided free and open means of doing so. It has severally subjected some members of these bodies to strike punishments but that should not be misconstrued to mean that these agencies should tolerate illegalities because they conform to DPA’s hideous interests.
“We state that it is wicked for any party or person to insinuate and suggest that the Fashola regime has put Lagosians under siege because the government is insisting on best living practices to drive the quest to turn Lagos into a livable and modern state for the benefit of all. It is easy to go to the gutters and exhume possible emotional missives, even when they are illegal, so as to curry the sympathy of outlaws but in the task, which the Fashola administration is doing in Lagos, we wonder if there is room for such cheap solicitation as the DPA has found fulfilling to do. That the DPA fell into the temptation to cheapen and trivialize the works of the Fashola regime to paying more respect to flowers than citizens shows the low minds that purport to speak for a party. It shows the desperate intention of the spokesperson of Lagos DPA because it is doubtful if his belittling statements have the support of some highly esteemed members of Lagos DPA.
“Even if the DPA has not sourced the courage to praise the wonderful works going on in Lagos, does it need to invent naked and rabid sentiments to show its frustration at what it cannot change. We advise Lagos DPA to wait till it accesses power so it can declare a free zone for outlaws, as its latest statement want to portray.”
