The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has solicited the support of the Federal Government for the state as the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration tackles challenges of rebuilding critical infrastructure destroyed by arsonists during the recent #EndSARS protests.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, titled: ‘Lagos Deserves Empathy,’ the Lagos APC flayed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for raising an eyebrow over Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s claim that N1 trilion would be required to fix the state in post-protest period; even as it also renewed its call for a state police that will forestall the reoccurrence of violence and assaults on public utilities.
He said, “We wish to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to come to the aid of Lagos State at a trying time like this to successfully re-build and restore our dear state in a record time.
“We also want to join our voice to the call by other well-meaning Nigerians on the need for state police to forestall such incidents in future.
“We wish to urge all Lagosians to rally round our government, embrace unconditional peace and commence the process of far reaching healing.”
Taking exception to what he described as “the uninformed and blind challenge of the opposition PDP in Lagos State of the estimated N1 trillion to restore the massive destruction of public properties, utilities and investments unleashed on Lagos State during the recent mayhem,” Oladejo cautioned against playing idle politics with an incident that has thrown the entire state into mourning as a result of avoidable loss of lives and properties.
While commiserating with the government and people of Lagos over the incident, the APC said that although it is not preempting the findings of the commission of enquiry already set up, it condemned all acts of omission or commission that may have contributed to this national tragedy.
The statement reads in part, “We acknowledge the characteristic swift and decisive response of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who continues to stand firm in the face of tremendous pressure to uphold his oath of office to protect the lives and property of all Lagosians.
“The visits to the injured victims in various hospitals and the state wide tour to pacify the citizenry and assess the extent of damage were, without any doubt, moves in the right direction.
“The statewide tour enabled the state government to have an inventory of the monumental destruction which set our state back by decades.
“The long list of destroyed public and private property in Lagos State, to list a few, include Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government secretariat; Palace of the Oba of Lagos; Lagos High Court, Igbosere; Oyingbo BRT terminus; Ojodu Berger BRT terminus; Vehicle Inspection Office, Ojodu Berger; Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Ojodu Berger; Lagos City Hall and Circle Mall, Lekki; numerous luxury shops in Surulere, The Nation Newspaper, TVC and Shoprite Lekki.
“The transport sector lost 27 of the BRT vehicles that cost $200,000 each while 57 of them cost $100,000 each, all totaling about N3.9 billion.
“According to the police, the 25 stations burnt in Lagos were Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute Ero, Pen-Cinema, Isokoko, Alade, Cele, Igbo Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin, Anti-Kidnapping, Surulere. Other police stations that were vandalised but not burnt were Ojo, Ojodu, Mowo, PPL and Morogbo.
“This is apart from personal losses incurred by innocent members of the public.
“We opine that the estimate could at the end of the day be found to be hasty and conservative with a careful consideration of the present cost of reconstruction, revamping and regeneration of these public utilities.
“We find it distasteful that the opposition PDP would rather mindlessly condemn and contest a mere estimate to restore our state as soon as possible.
“PDP in Lagos state, after two decades in opposition, ought to have developed a template for responsible opposition. It’s also germane to gauge the mood of the people before mocking the dead and the wanton losses. Our people deserve emphathy and understanding from all and sundry.”
