Lagos: Sanwo-Olu Rejects Amotekun In The State; Optimistic Of Being Re-elected

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has quashed any hope of institutionalizing the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, like his counterparts in Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti States.

The Governor said that he would not replicate another security outfit  such as Amotekun in the State, as the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety also serves the same functions as Amotekun and has a cordial relationship and synergy with the Nigerian Police Force.

Governor Sanwo Olu made this known during an interview on Channels Television Programme, Sunday Politics.

The Governor is, also, confident that the electorates in the State will re-elect him to steer the affairs of the State for another four years given his record of achievements as he jostles for the Governorship seat alongside 14 other candidates.

He said his administration has brought  development that can be seen and felt by the State’s residents.

“I managed the emergency of the city. Today alone, there are emergencies that have been reported today alone. I’ve recruited over 650 fire service men. I’ve bought 64 brand new trucks that you will come, I will invite you for commissioning.

“I spent over a billion to take off the refuse in Lagos. We’re creating a sanitary landfill site. That’s what we’re doing. We’re building 1618 kilometres of rigid pavement road that runs to tens of billions. We’re building the biggest market in the country because that’s what we’re doing.”

Sanwo Olu dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate, Olajide Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor and  his deputy, Funke Akindele, a filmmaker, as no threat to his political ambition.

He said he is the most preferred candidate because he is more experienced.

“So you know, like I said if you have an emergency, who would you call? What are your chances? Do you call the man that has the experience, that has gone through the trenches before  that has lived with it that understands what the issues are or a novice?  You call the man that appreciates what challenge you have even at 3 a.m. or will you leave your chance to someone that doesn’t know where the dial is or that doesn’t even know what the issues of governance are? This is Lagos.

“This is an informed audience. This is not a tea party. We’re talking about real governance. We’re talking about the lives of 20-plus million Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu added that Lagos cannot be left in the hands of someone who “cannot run a business that has 100 people.”

The Governor noted that traffic robberies and accidents have significantly reduced following the directive on motorcycle (okada) transportation.

Okada riders were banned by the governor from plying in six Local Government Areas in the State – Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa and nine Local Government Councils.

It is not the first time the Government would impose the measure.

In January 2020, the Government banned the operation of motorcyclists in 15 Local Councils across the State.

The Governor said that since he gave the directive to restrict the motorcyclists to certain areas of the State, residents have written to him commending the development.

“We’ve also seen a significant drop in accidents. You know, we don’t see people being lame, you know, cutting off limbs in our hospitals again, because these were reckless driving that usually terminate people’s life, unexpectedly,” he said.

“We’ve seen tremendous improvement in that statistics to support. In terms of death drop in the last two months. At the peak of it, we saw about 550 Okada-related accidents at the peak of it in January for over a month.

“Now, it’s coming down to less than 100 direct Okada accidents that we’ve seen, from our hospitals.”