Press Releases

No Party In Dispute Has Right To Self-Help - Fashola

Jul 26, 2009 - In the light of the report published in several national newspapers today, and numerous calls and enquiries by concerned Lagosians and Nigerians from across the country, His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has been constrained to direct that a copy of his response to the letter from Mr. President which was widely published today be made available to the press.

The letter (herein attached) underscores the fact that when there is a constitutional disagreement in a Federal System like ours in Nigeria, it is not open to any of the parties to pronounce on the constitutionality or lack of it on the issue at stake. It is the age long responsibility of the Judiciary to determine disputes pertaining to the Constitution.

The letter also points out that no party in the dispute has the right to resort to self-help in a polity governed by law and order.

Indeed as explained in the letter, in the case at hand, it is impossible for His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, to accede to the request to dismantle the currently existing Local Governments and Local Council Development Authorities, strictly because they were created by laws validly enacted by the State House of Assembly.

According to the letter, as Head of the Executive Arm of Government, the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is unable to unilaterally invalidate the laws made by the House of Assembly.