Concerned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the leadership of the renowned activist, Comrade Razaq Olokoba has expressed dissatisfaction about some worrisome antics of some residents of Lagos State that tend to portray the state authorities as, 2irresponsible, irresponsive and wicked,” saying, “As far as we know, the activities and conducts of the state under Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu are always in conformity with the rule of law.”
Making this submission in Lagos Monday through a statement, leader of the organizations, Olokoba said, “The clarification is necessary to convince the public that we members of the Civil Societies are out to protect the right of the citizenry but not to the detriment of the rights of the authorities too,” asserting that, “as we are out to criticize the government’s excesses, sso also we are out to praise them when they perform well.”
The statement, Olokoba explained was necessary as a reaction to a video that went viral on line in which a government agency, Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), was alleged to have gone beyond their boundary of operations when some motorists were clamped down upon along the popular Allen Avenue, Ikeja for contravening a parking rule to whip up sentiment against the agency’s operatives.
“We immediately went into action to know the true situation of the thing. We contacted relevant quarters only to discover that the organization accusing the agency of high handedness defaulted in the payment of its annual dues and so reason for the step taken to enforce compliance.”
In a statement signed by LASPA General Manager, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu debunked the insinuation of wrong doing levelled against the agency by Health Plus Pharmacy, clarifying that it was the organization that shunned payment of annual corporate levy.
The full statement runs thus:
“The attention of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has been drawn to a viral video circulated by Health Plus Pharmacy, located in Allen, Ikeja. The video is a deliberate misrepresentation of facts to whip up public sentiments against against government officials on lawful duty.
“In order to set the records straight, the issues that led to clamping the tyre of the vehicle parked in front of Health Plus premises are detailed below;
• Lagos State Parking Authority is the regulatory body estabished to monitor private and commercial facilities to forestall indiscriminate parking along roads and setbacks in the State.
• In December 2022, the Authority issued demand notices for Y2023 parking levies to private and public corporate organisations, including Health Plus Pharmacy, and thereafter, circulated reminders that were duly acknowledged by defaulting organisations.
• Officers seen in the video were on a final visit to seek payment for legitimate levies due to the Lagos State Government. It is evident that the officials were non confrontational and professional in their conduct during the exercise.
• All demand notices served to the company and duly acknowledged are hereby presented to members as a display of transparency by our institution.
LASPA will not be deterred from performing its regulatory role by unpatriotic individuals who resort to misinformation and fake news in order to evade payment of taxes and levies due to the government.
For the avoidance of doubt, any individual found deliberately peddling falsehood to defame the officials of the Lagos State Government on monitoring and compliance activities will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
While urging the public to always find out reasons for government’s actions before condemning the authorities, Olokoba reminded that, obeying the rule of law is the baston of democracy, asserting that, “In ametropolitan city like Lagos, transport is productivity and reason production time should not be wasted because of the adverse effect the wasted period would have on the socio-economy of the state.”
Concluding, Olokoba, who is also the Convener and National President of the Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), because of the enormous role the transportation system play in Lagos, only one means of transportation is inadequate calling for effective Metro Line Governor Sanwo-Olu is having sleepless nights to achieve to satisfy the dream of his people.”
Against this backdrop, the renowned scholar therefore implored the people to double their support for Governor Sanwo-Olu to realise his laudable programmes aimed towards realising the promised better second term for the people, expressing the confidence that, “he will walk his talk as he always does.”
