Attention: Mr. Governor:
We believe you’re much aware that these are not the best of times in Lagos State and the country in general with the economic situation which unfortunately has impoverished millions of Nigerians the more.
We recently watched one of the numerous videos of the current situation and happenings in the country which went viral on the internet of some residents of Lagos Island scrambling for free loaves of bread and even some being caned by the same givers of the bread who could not manage the hungry crowd. This sad event showed a fraction from what millions of Lagosians and Nigerians are going through currently. We have seen various reactions and comments of People’s Parliament on the streets expressing their displeasure in the handling of the economic situation by the government. The anger and frustration is obvious for all to see.
Please, Lagosians would not want to be saddled with another burden from the state government over exploitation of the citizens in the name of tolling of the Lekki Toll-Gate with the little resources they’re managing with their families.
We feel concerned knowing the pulse of the nation and the people who expect that the government who ought to provide basic amenities like electricity, food security, affordable healthcare, adequate security, housing etc from tax payers money but are yet to fully see and enjoy the benefit of their taxes paid multiple times. This serves as their own quota in partnership with the government for infrastructural development and provision of social amenities but unfortunately the masses always be at the receiving end of persistent exploitation from government institution from local government to state.
For us as elders of the state knowing the current situation in the country with the high price of petrol, the uncontrolled free fall of the naira and high inflation rate. Most of the people people that ply the Lekki Toll-Gate axis live below average, which includes transport workers who have already been overburdened by agberos. Uber drivers, young workers, students who are just starting to get by in life and so many others are the majority of the people that use this axis to get home. You can’t compare them to the privileged few.
We advise, Mr Governor to jettison the tolling of the gate because we think the plan is ill-conceived or probably not true.
For us, it is time for restitution by the government of Lagos State with the unfortunate incident of the #EndSARS saga.
For us, it’s like spitting on the graves of people that lost their lives at the protests at Lekki Toll-Gate in October, 2020.
Instead of remembering the dead by tolling the gate. Mr Governor, we keenly advise. Do not reopen old wound.
We would recommend the toll-gate be established as a monument as part of our history.
This will be laudable if the state government considers this recommendation.
Lastly, we strongly believe the proposed plan to reopen the toll-gate may trigger another civil crisis; and as elders of the land what an elder see sitting down is far superior to what a child sees standing.
A word is good enough for the wise.
We pray that you critically look into this decision once again before taking any action on the matter. As elders of our party, the People’s Democratic Party and elders of our state, all we pray for is a Lagos that should be known to be humane, secured and productive for all.
We can only wish you well as you take this critical decision.
THE LAGOS PDP ELDERS FORUM
