Press Releases

Coroner Law: Fashola Confirms Return Of Law To House Of Assembly

Sep 14, 2008 - Lagos State Government, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend confirmed the return of the State’s Coroner Law to the House of Assembly for review disclosing that Spiritual leaders and other Stakeholders would soon be invited to make contributions to the amendment.

Speaking at a Ramadan Lecture in honour of Late Justice Muri Okunola at the Eko FM complex, Governor Fashola, however, urged Lagosians to eschew religious sentiments while making their contributions to the final amendment in order to ensure that the final version would be to the benefit of the people of Lagos State.

“Complaints and disagreements can never be properly ventilated on the altar of religion. Religion is an emotional thing”; the Governor said, adding, “As we all go to the House of Assembly to ventilate our complaints, I urge us to keep these thoughts at the back of our minds”.

Querying why the Law, which existed since 1954, aroused so much controversy this time, Governor Fashola declared,” The reason is that we want to make people accountable for how they manager people entrusted to their care. If we entrust human life to you, you must take care of it.”

He, however, expressed dismay that the responses to the Law came in a manner which showed clearly that those raising the controversy wanted to stir unjustifiable anger in the people.

“Let us ask ourselves, are there not Moslem doctors in that hospital, are there not Moslem nurses in that hospital? Are they not part of the people who will implement this Law?” he further queried.

Acknowledging that the Almighty Allah gives and takes life, the Governor, however, argued that the same Supreme Being gave mankind the knowledge to manufacture things that cure diseases and add quality to the life of man. “Science has thought us today that in Black Africa, there was a special affliction called sickle cell anaemia, we would never have discovered it without autopsy, today we know about high blood pressure, we know how to measure it, we know how to take our drugs and have some measure of qualitative life”; he said.

Enjoining Moslems to manifest their religion in their day to day life, Governor Fashola urged them to maintain law and order including Environmental Laws of the State, adding; “If we pray, fast, pay tithe, go to hajj, religion does not stop there. If you prayed in the Mosque and litter the road with sachet of pure water, Allah will ask it of you, so also if you drive your motorbike through one way and say you are fasting, Allah will judge you”.

He reiterated his call on vehicle owners to keep off the dedicated lanes meant for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) urging them to drop their cars and use the bus if they wish to instead of driving on the lane thereby disturbing the masses who should have unimpeded right to use the BRT buses. The Governor also urged Lagosians to participate in the tree planting programme of his administration across the state..

He commended the widow and children of late Justice Muri Okunola for all they have done to propagate Islam, describing the deceased as a true believer whose life made very positive impact on the Islamic faith. “I miss him as Governor of Lagos State. I miss his wise counsel on very sensitive matters that affect the Moslem Faith”, he lamented.