Tinubu-Ogunlewe face-off
is childish- Odesanya, Lagos legislator
By Muyiwa Oyinlola
Thursday, July 8, 2004
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•Hon. Olanrewaju
Odesanya |
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While the face-off between the Minister of Works, Senator
Adeseye Ogunlewe and Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu has
remained unabated, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly
has said that the duo are merely distracting themselves from
the public assignments given to them.
Hon. Olanrewaju Odesanya, a first timer in the House, who
represents Ikorodu 1 Constituency, is of the opinion that
the prolonged face-off between the duo goes beyond their various
offices but rather a personality issue.
He, however, berates Ogunlewe whom he accuses of trying to
cause chaos in the state, having lost the election that could
have returned him to the Senate in the last general elections.
"Particularly, that Senator Ogunlewe lost an election
should not make heaven to fall. It’s the main art of
personality issues. He’s ready to foment trouble in
the state. I believe this is not patriotic enough. He’s
not exhibting political maturity," he maintains.
Odesanya, who is Chairman, Judiciary, Human Rights and Public
Petitions Committee in the House, also speaks on the efforts
of his committee in ensuring that justice prevails on every
issue among Lagosians. He adds that the state government,
through the establishment of Office of Public Defenders, and
Citizens Mediation Centre, has also made available avenues
of getting justice in no time.
He, however, laments that a lot of indigenes and residents
of the state still lack the awareness of seeking justice whether
in the law courts or through other agencies whenever they
feel aggrieved, adding that most of them also back out of
cases for their inability to reject financial inducement from
the opposition.
Specifically citing the case of the inferno that gutted some
factories leading to the loss of several lives in Ikorodu
about three years ago, he regretted that the dependants backed
out of the case which OPD was pushing for them in the law
court, having being lured by the defendants with the sum of
N50,000 each.
Being a first timer in the House, he speaks on his perception
of the House before he became a member and makes a comparison
with the reality on ground. Moreso, the young barrister also
speaks on his desire for the next governor of the state to
come from Ikorodu.
"I’m aware that some people are warming up. They’ve
not really declared openly. We desire an Ikorodu man becomes
Lagos State governor," he asserts.
Tinubu/Ogunlewe and Lagos politics
My philosophy about politics, most especially about election,
is that you must be a sports man, you must have a large heart.
In this case, I see a very uncivilised and childish behavioural
pattern. They try to personalise salient issues, issues that
bother on welfare of the people. I believe that politicians
should be role models on societal expectation. They should
make life meaningful for the electorate. Particularly, that
Senator Ogunlewe lost an election should not make heaven to
fall. It’s the main art of personality issues. He’s
ready to foment trouble in the state. I believe this is not
patriotic enough. He’s not exhibiting political maturity.
Human rights in Lagos State
Since the inception of this administration in 1999, I make
bold to say that Lagos State judiciary has taken giant strides
in all sectors. Lagos State Judiciary is a role model in Nigeria,
nay Africa. In the past, we used to have congestion of cases
in our courts, but these days, you find that most of these
cases are being dispensed of in no time. We have the multi-court
system right now - alternative dispute resolution. Most
of these cases, or some opf them are really not supposed to
be in law court. It’s a global trend now that arbitration
is an alternative dispute resolution.
In the area of human rights abuses, you have Citizens Mediation
Centre, you have the Office of Public Defenders (OPD). These
centres are established to assist indigent litigants. So,
they don’t feel oppressed.
Lagosians have benefited tremendously from this in the past
four years. Citizens Mediation Centre settles disputes between
landlords and tenants, neighbourhood disputes, they intervene
and make amicable settlements. These have really brought justice
to the doorstep of Lagosians.
Most of the time we receive petitions that have to do with
gross violation of labour laws, gross violation in the work
place, where workers are being treated like slaves. Most of
these factories are slave yards. We receive petitions like
these, and in most case where they have to go to court, we
refer them to the office of Public Defender, because most
of these workers are indigent, they cannot afford legal services
and they have really tried bringing justice to the aggrieved
and the oppressed.
Some petitions don’t really need to go to court, we
invite both parties and broker amicable resolution. No case
is too big for OPD to handle. Even if you have a case against
the government, OPD can defend you, it is just an independent
organ.
Ikorodu inferno
When we had this inferno at Ikorodu factories, OPD intervened,
that was even before I came in as a legislator. There was
an investigation and the matter was taken to court. But to
our surprise when I came in and I made investigations, I discovered
that most of these petitioners, out of impatience, were carried
away by peanuts given to them by these companies. You discover
that as low as N50,000 were given out to them and they opted
to settle out of court without the knowledge of the OPD handling
the matter.
The counsel to the company was able to lure the victims with
the money to forget about the case. And until the OPD got
to court, we were not aware there had been an amicable settlement,
and that was the end of the matter. That means they were comfortable
with the out-of-court settlement. There was nothing OPD could
do. These are part of the horrible experiences.
Lagos House
Before coming on board as a member of the House, I perceived
the House as a vibrant and vocal platform, a democratic institution,
highly cherished. I believe it is the same - still vibrant
on issues. I can’t be a judge in my own court.
Well, for those who say we merely rubber stamp whatever the
executive brings, I think it is a matter of opinion and they
are entitled to it. I think it is a matter of perception.
Ikorodu and governorship
We have a number of competent hands. I’m not going to
mention names now, but I believe we have more than enough
hands to sail the ship of the Round House. I’m aware
that some are warming up, but they have not really declared
openly. We desire an Ikorodu man becomes the next Lagos State
governor.
Youths in politics
The future is still very bright The youths should not feel
intimidated. They should not feel daunted by whatever the
old folk deem fit in the terrain. They cannot fold their hands
and start to apportion blames.
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