Fashola flays blockade of Rivers Govt House

Governor Babatunde Fashola

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Saturday, denounced the blockade on Thursday of the access road leading to the Rivers State Government House. The police on Thursday mounted a roadblock on Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, which leads to the Government House. The development denied Amaechi access to the Government House, forcing him to take an alternative longer route. Fashola spoke at Ikeja while commemorating his administration’s 2,300 days in office . He governor said, “If a citizen is denied an access to his house, it will be a breach of fundamental human rights to movement.” He, however, urged the nation’s leaders to attune themselves to the workings of the law so that Nigeria would make more progress. He also explained the government’s decision to appeal the acquittal of Major Hamza Al Mustapha at the Supreme Court saying it was because the state placed highest premium on human lives. He stated that the government acted due to the agitation of “the people.” Al Mustapha, who was the Chief Security Officer to Nigeria’s former military dictator, Gen. Sanni Abacha, was accused of conspiracy in the murder of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola. He said, “Part of my report here is in respect of the verdict of acquittal of Major Al Mustapha for charges of conspiracy and murder by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which has generated some mixed reactions. “Because our Constitution permits a further appeal to the Supreme Court, and because we place the highest premium on every human life and because the families of the victims deserve every right to agitate the matter to the final court, just as the accused would have been entitled, your government has appealed on behalf of the people to the Supreme Court.” The governor also stated that the government had
recorded success in its appeal of 2006 census. He explained that 20 different petitions were submitted to the Census Tribunal to challenge the figures announced by the National Population Census in the state. He said that 14 of the petitions were successful as the tribunal ordered for a recount in 14 local government areas. He said, “From these findings, it seems fair to conclude that the census returns were manipulated against Lagosians in an act of grave injustice, to say the least. “No nation that wants to prosper and solve human challenges should ever be tardy or play politics with data collection projects such as population census. You cannot manage what you cannot measure.” Fashola also said its programmes in the transportation sector was yielding good results. He pointed out that the inauguration of seven kilometre Ibeshe road had not only enhanced businesses in the area, it had also reduced journey time on the road from about 45 minutes to 10 minutes. He said, “Over 200 inner city roads across the state are in various stages of construction and as we complete work on a number of them this year, we expect to see improved connectivity and reduced journey times.”