A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has on Monday, called for the permanent dismantling of the Lekki toll gate, in Lagos,
He said that after the dismantling, a monument should be erected in honour of those who reportedly died in the ordered shooting of peaceful EndSARS protesters, last Tuesday night, on October 20, 2020.
The PDP Chieftian, who stated that he was speaking as an Elder Statesman, and not as a party man, also called for a thorough investigation into the killing of the protesters.
At a Press Conference, in his Ikoyi office, he said that the uprising witnessed in the State, in recent days, was a reflection of the “rage and anger” of the youths with the current governance system, which he said is not working.
In the address titled: “Lagos State; The Anger and The Rage”, Bode George also called for the scrapping of the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, as well as Alpha Beta, a firm allegedly collecting taxes on behalf of the State Government.
He stated that it is high time for a comprehensive audit of the finances of the Lagos State Government by an independent audit firm.
Similarly, he called for free education from Primary to Secondary School level in Lagos State, and free Healthcare services to the needy.
Implementing these demands, he noted, would pacify the angry youths, whom he said have no jobs, no hope, and without any enabling environment.
He nonetheless, condemned the looting and destruction of public properties that trailed the protests in the State, stating that, his family house was almost touched by the angry and oppressed youths, but were only resisted by youths of the area.
He stated: “When our youths are employed, when obscene pension schemes of immediate Lagos State Governors are scrapped, when everyone is given equal opportunities to exert his God given talents, when the ogre of nepotism and cronyism are removed from our polity, only then we may start the journey towards a national renewal and rebirth.”
He noted that the wealth of the State, is not reflective of the infrastructural development, saying that, it is time for citizens to demand for more accountability in the management of resources of the State.
“Something is terribly wrong. Are some people merely just pocketing all our revenues? If not, the government should explain who is grabbing all these stupendous funds. Definitely the wealth of the State are not reflected in infrastructural development, amid the general decay, abandoned projects, and various ruination.
“Let me advise that the two Toll Gates at Lekki should be dismantled entirely. The Toll Gates are now sacred grounds, where innocent lives were cut short abruptly. At the Admiralty Circle Toll Gate specifically, where bullets rained on that black Tuesday, 20- 10-2020, a monument should be erected as a permanent memorial to honour the young men and women who stood up in peaceful protests against the ills in our society.
“The protesters were Lawyers and Doctors. Many were unemployed. There were Artistes and Musicians. There were Yorubas, Hausas, Ibos, and all ethnic stripes that make up the Nigerian Federation. There were Muslims, Christians, and many various faiths.
“Our nation has turned that frightening corner where all conscionable men and women must now choose to stand with the righteous, or withdraw into the dark corridor of cowardly little men; unspoken, quiet, huddled in undignified silence.
“I have chosen to talk. I have chosen to identify with the voiceless, the helpless, the trampled, the hapless, the selfless members of the Armed Forces, and the Police.
”Our system is not working. Our ethos and norms have broken down. The structures of power are hindering merit and excellence. It is this very anomaly which is much pronounced in Lagos State, than any other part of our nation, that galvanised the EndSARS protests.”
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