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 Daily Independent Online.
* Monday, August 09, 2004.
Don’t turn Lagos to a warring
ground, Lagosians tell Ogunlewe
By
Stella Odueme
Reporter, Lagos.
Apparently
worried by recent outburst of the Minister for Works, Mr Adeseye Ogunlewe
that there will be a revolution in the state very soon, Lagosians have
urged the minister be careful of his utterances so as not to turn Lagos
into a warring ground.
Reacting
to statement credited to the minister calling the Lagos State governor
Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu “a minority governor”, they warned the Minister to
steer off Lagos with his illegal activities.
Ogunlewe
in his outbursts recently was quoted as saying that he was not worried
about Tinubu. “He is a minority governor. One out of 36. He can’t do
anything. Believe me, there will be a revolution in Lagos state very
soon, I am a master in this game. They know it. They are already afraid.
This is why they are crying and crying, they will cry themselves out”.
Lagosians
who spoke with Daily Independent, said that the statement was capable of
undermining the peaceful coexistence amongst people in the state.
According
to Mr. Oluremi Adetunde, a primary school teacher, the revolution being
threatened by the Minister presented a picture where the minister’s anger
at his political opponent, Tinubu would be transferred on the good people
of Lagos state who might not be politicians nor supporters of either
parties. He called on president Obasanjo to “consider the negative impact
such a revolution may have on innocent children, women and the generality
of Lagosians”. Citing instances of various injuries inflicted on innocent
people as a result of power flexing for superiority over who would
control federal roads in the state, Adetunde lamented that tension was
already building up as the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Chairmen in the
state had vowed to meet force with force to press home their point.
Also,
Mrs Rose Suleman, a trader, lamented that instead of the Minister to
ensure that traders and residents enjoy the dividends of democracy,
traders are now made to pay double taxes as officials of FERMA now
compete with council officials to collect tolls from traders. According to her, statement such
as was credited to the minister “is capable of engulfing the state in an
unsolicited crisis that could lead to a state of emergency being declared
in the state.” She urged the president to caution the Minister so that
the situation he was anticipating did not come to maturity in the
state.
According
to Mr. Uche Ebere, a council worker, the statement was highly condemnable
bearing in mind the nature of Lagos in which various ethnic and religious
differences exist.
Adding that Lagos state had
been able to manage the various differences and resolve whatever crises
emanate to a reasonable extent, he said the Minister should not therefore
say things that can derail the peace, which the people of Lagos now have.
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