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Fashola Insists On Protection Of Gains Of Democracy

Mar 8, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday enjoined all Nigerians to do everything in there power to protect the gains of the nation’s young democracy saying although there are still imperfections, it is better to preserve the gains while asking for more.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa when he addressed members of the Women Arise for Change Initiative who led a peaceful rally to his office to mark the International Women’s Day and to present a letter of demands for women’s rights to the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said freedom is one of the most valuable gains of democracy adding that it is only those who are free that can ask for their rights.

He told the rally, led by Professor Pat Utomi and Pastor Tunde Bakare, “Seeing you here shows fulfillment of some of the promises of democracy – Freedom. It is only free people who can ask for rights. You are free people because you have democracy”.

“We may bemoan its imperfections, but the truth is that we must never lose it. At this time that we have gathered like this, I take them as an opportunity to re-enforce what we have gained”, the Governor said pointing out that while it is today a reality that police officers could walk with them to protect them and ensure that their voice is heard, it was not possible ten years ago.

Governor Fashola commended the Police for the increasing civil compliance level they are manifesting as well as their increasing understanding of the essence and nature of the liberties of citizens.

The Governor expressed delight that some of the issues highlighted by the Organization in its letter to the Acting President do not altogether constitute a gloomy story adding that the Lagos State Government since 1999 has provided a platform for participation, interaction and opportunities for women more than any other government in the country.

“When you look at the Magistracy of Lagos State; when you look at the level of the leadership of our public service in terms of the permanent secretaries that are women; if you look at the Lagos Judiciary in terms of the number of women that are High Court Judges, you will see that even the men are daily becoming an endangered species amongst them” Governor Fashola said.

According to the Governor, women also have a fair share of presence at the Legislative, Local Government Council and even the State Executive Council levels adding, however, that the number could increase.

Governor Fashola said the Government has also empowered women in the State through its Micro-Credit Scheme which has, in the last three years, benefitted over 30, 000 people, 70 percent of whom were women.

Other areas where the Government has empowered women, the Governor said, include improvement of the Child Rights Law through being there at all times when there is abuse of the child or women both to respond and to provide succour to the victims and in providing maternal and Childcare Centres across the State as well as providing legal aids for victims of abuse through the Office of the Public Defender.

“We think that with those centres, we can strike a most decisive blow at issues of maternal and child mortality and morbidity” the Governor said adding that out of the proposed eight centres, three have already been delivered and on completion of the eight, there will be at least 800 bed spaces for only women and children in the State.

Earlier in his remarks, Professor Utomi, who is also Chairman of the Board of the organization said that the course of Democracy worldwide has been advanced by women adding that a lot has been achieved through women’s struggle for democratic rights.

He lamented that while millions of Nigerian children are roaming the streets without education and young men and women are without jobs, the nation’s leaders are playing with the destiny of the country.

Pastor Bakare, in his remarks, commended the Governor for agreeing to give the group audience at very short notice adding, “I commend you for demonstrating at every point in time that government must not only be responsible but also responsive to the yearnings of the people.

He declared, “The devastation that is going on in our land does not know gender. Infrastructural decay, insecurity everywhere, poverty walking naked, there is no gender to being poor, so we decided to come with the women because we too are born of women”.

Some of the demands of the group as contained in the letter to the Acting President as read by Joe Odumakin include Implementation of National Policy on Women, Payment of Maternity Leave, and Provision of Crèche in workplaces among others.

Also present at the venue were members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele as well as other women leaders.