By Atanda Kola
Dear Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, I am writing on behalf of the Concern Peoples of Lagos Mainland (CPM) concerning menace of Danfo Drivers.
I sincerely express my profound gratitude, unalloyed loyalty and support to your leadership and that of your party, All Progressive Congress (APC).
Lagos mainland has been consistent in terms of delivering the constituency to the ruling party as far back as since the time of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999. That year marks the beginning of the fourth republic till this present time of APC in every electioneering process.
Therefore, with the above antecedent of the Mainlanders, it’s unfair to treat us as a round peg in a square hole. Rather, we are a local government being domicile by the core progressives.
Hence, it won’t be off-track to express our view either positively or otherwise. The good people of Lagos mainland have been consistently and persistently complaining about atrocities been perpetrated by the vehicles driving against traffic “one-way” on Eko bridge.
This has become the norms, especially by commercial buses (Danfo Drivers) en route Oyingbo – Idumota and Idumota – Ijora/Orile axis.
The saddened part of this is the involvement of uniform personnel. They are supposed to be the “custodian of law”, but alas, they’re turning culprits or defaulters.
They have made Iddo under bridge their office on a daily basis in order to illegitimately extort the motorists, particularly, those driving against traffic thereby aiding the anomalous.
This atrocity is majorly being spare-headed by police officers, officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Lagos Island Officers of Central Business District (CBD).
These one-way drivers have on numerous occasions murdered or inflicted various degrees of injuries on victims. They have, therefore, rendered many breadwinners incapacitated.
Recently, when we heard that you gave a directive, restricting their activities on Eko Bridge, we assumed that would cut their excesses. The current happenings have, however, proved us wrong.
I assume Lagos State Joint Task Force deployed it’s men on that bridge to effect the governor’s order. But alas, they have compromise too.
As such, they abandoned their primary responsibilities as directed by “His Excellency”. It won’t be out of place to allege they’ve equally turned their new duty-post to money making shop.
As people, firmly rooted in the progressive ideas and law abiding citizens, we are bold to say “all is not well”. We knew fully that things are going wrong.
And we can no longer keep quiet because we have no other constituency than Lagos mainland Local Government.
Mr Governor, perhaps you have forgotten but let me remind you sir. Part of the oath of office you took was that “you will protect our lives and properties in Lagos State”.
But I don’t think you’ve been able to fulfill this clause in this respect as a governor. So, in the interest of good people of Lagos, it is time you take appropriate action to address this menace.
There is urgent need for your government to apply strict monitoring to ensure this ugly narrative changes for better. Doing so, history will be kind with you sir.
You don’t have to wait till it affects high-profile personalities before taken necessary action as all lives matter.
Thank you.
Kola is a youth social activist in Lagos Mainland
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