BREAKING NEWS, Politics
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THE Save Lagos Group, a civil society organisation, has carpeted the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government in Lagos State for inflicting pains on the masses living in the state.
Specifically, the Save Lagos Group faulted the decision of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode government to clear structures in areas it considered as ‘slums’ across the state, saying the policy was not well thought through as it would further pauperise the poor citizens of the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by Sulaiman Adeniyi, convener, and Olaolu Oladipo, director, Media and Strategy, the organisation stated that the state government had shirked its responsibility of catering for the wellbeing of the poor segments of the society through its action.
To the Save Lagos Group, the state government ought to have provided alternative accommodation for those that are to be affected by the demolition, saying the failure to do so amounts to denying them their fundamental rights to decent living.
The statement said in part: “We have taken time to study the concept of the programme being embarked upon by the state government to rid the state of criminal elements. This gesture we commend but we hasten to say that the modus operandi for carrying the policy out has left some much to be desired.
“Our opposition to the policy stems from the fact that while it is good for government to restore the aesthetic value and beauty of the state to its pristine value, care must be taken so as not to leave the vulnerable segments of the society out.”
Also reacting to a statement credited to Idowu Ajanaku, senior special assistant to the governor on Media and Strategy, who stated that the state government was not out to inflict pains on the people of the state, the Save Lagos Group added that the fact that some people of the state had staged a protest march to the seat of government means that the policy has failed.
“To us, the state government should put a halt to the demolitions in the interest of the masses who are currently feeling pang of the current economic recession.
“We are using this statement to warn the state government to halt the planned demolition of ‘slum’ or risk mass action in the next seven days,” the group warned.
— Nov 7, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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