Nigeria’s rights activist and lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, has criticised Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over his comment purportedly directed at critics of his administration while reacting to the explosions that rocked the state on Boxing Day.

Fashola had said at the scene of the explosions caused by a banger at Jankara on Lagos Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria that “when town planning laws were made and government insisted on its implementation, the government was often branded as anti-poor and a tough one. Those who sought cheap popularity or sought to score cheap political points were often nowhere to be found when the consequences of agitations to prevent proper enforcement of regulations, law and order, like in the current situation.

“Some of the people who canvass this position are not here now where people have died and they seek cheap popularity when government tries to set rules and regulations, government is seen as anti-poor but the poor people have died here and the people who have made those cases are not here now to come and pick the dead bodies. It is us who are picking the dead bodies.”

Reacting to Fashola’s comment in a statement, Aturu described the governor’s comment as regrettable and condemnable, saying “it shows that the advertised democratic credentials of his government and of himself are not even skin-deep.

“It is highly hypocritical to posture as a democrat and be so patently hostile to voices of dissent as the Governor has demonstrated. The Governor should point out those who asked him not to implement laws banning firecrackers. If the State has failed to implement any existing law on firecrackers, the Governor should accept responsibility for that failure rather than shifting the blame on social critics.”

He added that: “The touchstone for measuring democracy is not opposition to the Federal Government but a holistic and consistent defence of the truth at all times no matter who may feel aggrieved. The Governor should be reminded plainly that he cannot cow members of the civil society or social critics by the kind of unnecessary comment he made at the scene of the tragic incident.

“If the military could not, he should know that he cannot. Those like him who are beneficiaries of the actions of social critics, which were also ironically described by the military despots as cheap-popularity-seeking gambits, who were jailed for this ‘democracy’ ought to know that criticism is essential to liberal democracy. We did not fight for democracy to have governors whose actions, even when well-meaning, cannot be challenged.”

Aturu said the advisers of the governor have their jobs cut out for them, saying they need to remind him that his comments should be seen to be temperate as he appeared “to me to be getting increasingly authoritarian and hostile to well- meaning criticisms. He is behaving too much like a military administrator, not even governor, for my liking. Let him listen to the critics as they are his best friends.”

He described the explosions at Jankara Market as regrettable, saying most Nigerians were quite sad that this sort of tragedy happened at a time when the people were supposed to be celebrating Christmas. He also commiserated with those who lost lives and properties in the fire.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/12/28/aturu-slams-fashola-over-comment-on-lagos-fire/

Who is Aturu? Abeg tell him to park well jooor!

Aturu! you hear? park well.

when government tries to set rules and regulations, government is seen as anti-poor but the poor people have died here and the people who have made those cases are not here now to come and pick the dead bodies. It is us who are picking the dead bodies.”

Noted..

Fashola should however note that critics are essential in a democracy. The major function of the opposition is to keep the ruling party on its toes at all times...

That was the lawyer who represented the displaced Makoko residents, when Fashola tried to clean up the water front, Fashola is seen as anti-people now. I feel the pain of Fashola.

Unpopular policies are not necessarily bad, there are some visions a leader can not clearly reveal to the majority of its followers. One of the pitfalls of democracy. Great transformation in shortest of time are implemented by committed dictators.(Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, China e.t.c comes to mind)

Parasites too much for Nigeria.

Sadly, Okada killed more lagosians than fire tragedies, but the same people talking rubbish now are still fighting the state government for creating and enforcing laws to save their lives. They say he's anti people, they say he ie elitist, they say he care less about the messes.

Imagine if without this tragedy the state took action against these busineses and even shut them down, its still going to be the same noise and criticism by the same lawless people...

You don't want to die or suffer tragedy, but you still don't want to be regulated, you still don't want to obey the law. Everybody is dying to have it both ways.

Fashola and many well meaning nigerian leaders must know that their primary duty as chief law enforcement officers of their stares is protection of life and property and they must do what's best for the society no matter the noise and criticism. Do your job and let the chips fall wherever.

“It is highly hypocritical to posture as a democrat and be so patently hostile to voices of dissent as the Governor has demonstrated. The Governor should point out those who asked him not to implement laws banning firecrackers. If the State has failed to implement any existing law on firecrackers, the Governor should accept responsibility for that failure rather than shifting the blame on social critics.”

“The touchstone for measuring democracy is not opposition to the Federal Government but a holistic and consistent defence of the truth at all times no matter who may feel aggrieved. The Governor should be reminded plainly that he cannot cow members of the civil society or social critics by the kind of unnecessary comment he made at the scene of the tragic incident."

- Aturu to Fashola


Words on marble.

without prejudice, Aturu made a valid point and such submissions are sinequanon for our democracy. This is the only way we can get the best at both Federal , State, and Local government levels. Unfortunately what i see every day on nairaland; are bunch of ass kissers of both Federal and State govt trying hard to out do one another.

PointB: - Aturu to Fashola


Words on marble.

you are very correct on this. supported

GARRI (x7):


Noted..

Fashola should however note that critics are essential in a democracy. The major function of the opposition is to keep the ruling party on its toes at all times...

stop being partial

D irony of governance & democracy in Africa is dat d political office is usually mistaken for d traditional stool.

baba pupa: Sadly, Okada killed more lagosians than fire tragedies, but the same people talking rubbish now are still fighting the state government for creating and enforcing laws to save their lives. They say he's anti people, they say he ie elitist, they say he care less about the messes.

Imagine if without this tragedy the state took action against these busineses and even shut them down, its still going to be the same noise and criticism by the same lawless people...

You don't want to die or suffer tragedy, but you still don't want to be regulated, you still don't want to obey the law. Everybody is dying to have it both ways.

Fashola and many well meaning nigerian leaders must know that their primary duty as chief law enforcement officers of their stares is protection of life and property and they must do what's best for the society no matter the noise and criticism. Do your job and let the chips fall wherever.

My brother, thank you, you are really on point here, when you try to prevent, they complain, when you do not, they castigate, that is the norm, so all fashola has been doing is to ignore them critics' comments and idiotic insinuations and do what is required of him.

Ride on Mr Fashola, others have been and are still looking up to you.

He doesnt have to ban the use of fireworks or dealings in fireworks for it to be safe.All he has to do is regulate strigent safety rules,outlining the dangers and precautions,tax it duely and monitor it properly to the minimize the prolifiration and risk to the barest minimum.Because there will always be risk dealing with explosives,it is part of nature and celebrations.Part of man's understanding of the energies around him and the art of creating stars.

Banning them outrightly does not tell anything good about a suppose evolving society.Society evolves by workable and rational regualations that guides it path.

Bamidele has always fought on the side of the masses, so his utterance is not surprising. he hit the nail on the head.

Fashola should know that no matter how noble his policies may seem to him, it may not be the best for the citizens. So, it's his perogative to weigh the pro and the cons and not necessarily take the suggestions of the populace because to him, his policies may seem a noble one. But he should not come out to make assertions that paint him as a dictator who know one should question or criticize. he should listen to the people he governs and not let his position get into his head because what goes around will definitely come around. he won't be there forever.

nitrogen: Who is Aturu? Abeg tell him to pack well jooor!

Di nwa-ebele

:DNigerian graduates and spelling,

Fasola and Aturu are saying the same thing in different ways: interests of the masses must be protected.

Psylas: Di nwa-ebele

Means?

Prof Corruption: Fasola and Aturu are saying the same thing in different ways: interests of the masses must be protected.

That's not the crux of the matter. While Fashola is shouting, Aturu is cautioning him on how to talk.

Just like thacherism and reganomics..we now have in lagos fashism, the belief that a mega city of lagos can be built on the backs of the poor. Eko oni baje o!!

ATURU MEANS RAM IN MY DIALECT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN YOURS

!

nitrogen: Who is Aturu? Abeg tell him to pack well jooor!

guy truth dey better abi fool like u...

Pls who are dose, sentimental idiiots, indigenious foools, morano bastards,capital stupidicians, who do hide my post on dis site? Shey na ur mama or ur papa wey dey give me money wey i dey use browse? U dey craze? Abi u dey mad? Or have ur grandpa or grandma/ any of ur uncle or anuty give me money one day to buy recharge cards? And its not ur fauty it because people do comment on ur site and instead of u rejoicing u dey hide post and there are many sites/blogs dat do pray make some just comment 4 dere website and people dey comment 4 ur site u con dey hide post abeg next no try me o cause if anyone of u hide my post again all i need to do is to make sure i invite thunder in featuring wit hot fire to burn u, and if anyone of u try to ban me, dats is not a big deal, and i have as many account as possible and if u ban dem all dem no dey collect money b4 opening yahoomail or gmail 4 me to open another account. Garbaric idiomatic foools!!!.

Oo...k....................

THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR JODS AND TRYING TO BE NOTICED WITH RULING PARTY (ACN)...FASHOLA IS A WICKED MAN...HE CARELESS FOR THE POOR...MAY GOD FORGIVE HIM

sunny-p:
guy truth dey better abi fool like u...

This is Aturu, you are welcome sir!

Aturu Kwa
Ebule nko?
Bwahahahhahahahanahaha
That is one family I could have never married into
To become Mrs Chinyere Aturu aka Mrs Chinyere Aguntan
A laughing stock
My mother will faint

A member of the Aturu family
SHe is an Aturu

PointB: - Aturu to Fashola


Words on marble.

I will say words for sale, for failure to address the issue and instead engaged in unnecessary digression by showing his sympathy for the federal government.

Kogi state governor flown to National Hospital Abuja. Legs totally
broken and not a single hospital in Kogi to treat him