- North East political leaders on solidarity visit
Political leaders from the North East led by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Saturday paid a solidarity visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to commiserate with him and Lagosians over the massive destruction in the state by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest.
In Zulum’s team was his predecessor in office and currently Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Kashim Shettima, was received by Sanwo-Olu at the State House in Marina.
Zulum described the attack as “mind-boggling”, noting that the violence was deliberately contrived to hurt Lagosians.
He said the proportion of the destruction was too much for Lagos to bear, stressing that the cost of rebuilding the State would bring about discomfort to residents and citizens whose businesses are tied to the peace in Lagos.
“We are here on behalf of Governors from the entire Northeast region and its people to commiserate with the people of Lagos and their Governor, over the recent unfortunate incident of violence and happened in Lagos, which left wanton destruction of both the public and private properties.
“While we strongly condemn any form of brutality by the police in any part of the country, we also condemn what has happened in Lagos. The destruction was engineered to hurt this booming State and its economy.
“We condemn the excesses of the youths who took to violence to express their grievances. There was no need for the violence when the authorities had already conceded to their demands.”
Zulum likened the style of the destruction of key Lagos Government assets to the manner with which Boko Haram carried out attacks on public utilities, noting that it could take years for Lagos to fully recover from the wreckage.
The Governor urged young people across the country and in Lagos to always use non-violent means to express their grievances, pointing out that destroying infrastructure meant to serve the public shouldn’t be an option in public protest.
He also advised those bent on staging another round of protest to allow the wound left by the destruction and looting of properties to heal. He said Governors had been working with the Federal Government to ensure victims of police brutality get justice and compensation.
Sanwo-Olu said the attacks had not weaned away Lagos’ ability to turn around its misfortune to opportunities, hinting that the State would come out stronger and better.
Sanwo-Olu particularly expressed appreciation to his Borno counterpart for identifying with Lagos, despite being faced by security challenges. The gesture, he said, stands Zulum out as a fearless leader.
Others in Zulum’s entourage include the Senator representing Borno North, Abubakar Kyari, Borno Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Adamu Lawan, Special Adviser on Intern-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Tukur Mohammed, Mr. Ahmed Ali Ahmed, and Mai Kanini of Lagos.
It will be recalled that Lagos State has continued to receive solidarity and support from well-meaning leaders across the country in the aftermath of the last month’s coordinated destruction of public assets and private properties instigated by the hijack of youth protest, Zulum and the North East political leader’s visit on Saturday being the latest
