Members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State, have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the approach adopted by the state government in handling the ongoing nationwide “hunger protests.”
The GAC members, led by their Chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, gave this verdict during a solidarity visit to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Marina, on Friday, commending him for not allowing the protests to destabilise Lagos, as witnessed in some parts of the country.
Olusi showered praise on Sanwo-Olu, who was in the company of the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, to receive the GAC delegation, for bringing what he called “mature leadership” to bear in making sure the state was not thrown into chaos while granting the rights of the citizens to express their grievances through protest.
According to the elder statesman, Sanwo-Olu’s approach had elicited nationwide applause and set a precedent in the manner in which the government should engage protesters, saying that the body he led felt it “appropriate and proper to be here physically to encourage and to thank our governor, having been inspired by God to take appropriate steps to ensure peace and stability in Lagos.”
“We are here to express our solidarity and support for the Governor of Lagos with respect to problems observed in the country recently. We are witnesses to the way the governor has handled the recent expression of grievances through protests by our fellow citizens with respect to the current economic hardship, which we acknowledge is a global issue.
“The maturity and leadership displayed by the governor in handling the situation have elicited respect and encomium from the length and breadth of our country.
“We members of the GAC thought it was appropriate and proper to be here physically to encourage and thank our governor, having been inspired by God to take appropriate steps to ensure peace and stability in Lagos,” Prince Olusi stated.
In the palliative programmes rolled out by the state government to cushion the effects of the hardship on the people, Olusi hailed Governor Sanwo-Olu for the move, saying that the launch of EKOCARES, a bespoke social protection initiative of the Sanwo-Olu administration, had brought relief to thousands of households within the state and had helped in curtailing the negative effects that the protest could have had on Lagos.
He said the Sunday Discount Markets, where residents bought basic foodstuffs at a 25 percent discount rate, had particularly brought down tempers, along with other palliative programmes initiated by the government to help people cope in the period of hardship.
“The governor has done a lot in terms of enhancing the welfare and wellbeing of people in Lagos. Many Lagosians are witnesses and can testify to all the palliative programmes targeted at alleviating the hardship experienced by the people. We have seen the accounts rendered to bring succour to the people, which are too numerous to be ignored.
“It is, therefore, in appreciation of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s devotion, loyalty, and commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of all the people living in Lagos that we have come here today to commend him and also pray for him for more strength in steering the affairs of the state,” the elder statesman said.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu said the calmness experienced in Lagos during the protests was a collective effort that was made by all stakeholders in the state, including the traditional leaders, religious leaders, and particularly the youth, noting that he listened to all advice offered in order to ensure the state was not thrown into violence.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, however, assured that his administration would get to work and “not go to sleep after this,” as, according to him, the confidence people have expressed in his government will require that it buckle up and keep their expectations of the government.
“I am taking this accolade on behalf of various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious leaders, and particularly the youth. We realised that we needed to engage every segment of our state to let people see the reasons why we should sue for peace. People listened to us.
“We will also not go to sleep after this. The confidence people have expressed in our government will require that we buckle up and keep their expectations of our government. We are not taking our eyes off the ball; we will continue to engage and collaborate to make Lagos safer not only for residents but also for investors,” he said.
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