Friday, November 15, 2013

Activists Protest Governor Fashola's Presence At Baba Omojola's Burial

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola was greeted with
series of embarrassing songs as he arrived home of late political
activist, Baba Omojola after the his body arrived home for his
lying-in-state at his family's residence in Surulre, Lagos State.
The governor arrived with his convoy unable to go into the premises
due to presence of a van that contained speakers blaring comradely
songs for the activists at the venue.
The van was used to obstruct movement of vehicles into the residence.
Upon his arrival however, aides of the governor who wanted to take
their convoy in ordered that the van be removed for the governor, but
the activists insisted the governor must alight from own his car and
walk into the premises like others did. One activist, Debo Adeniran,
who coordinated the van said with sarcarsm, that the governor could
call his LASTMA officials to tow the van out of the way.
Upon realizing the seriousness of the activists, Mr. Fashola stepped
down from his car and walked into the premises.
But as Mr. Fashola inched towards the house, more activists who had
learned of his arrival took the microphone to sing anti-oppressor
government song. Some lines in their songs tagged the governor
"Ole-ole", translating to the calling the governor a thief.
The activists also substituted imperative words into their chorus,
asking Mr. Fashola to leave the event to avoid his further
embarrassment.
It was not known whether the governor had intention to stay long
enough to address participants, but he left soon as the chants by
activists gained more tempo.
Asked why Mr. Fashola had to be rejected at the event, the activists
told Saharareporters that the governor was only a hypocrite pretending
to be familiar with the late Baba Omojola.
A comrade said: "You won't believe they (government) don't allow Baba
into their office whenever he was there on pressing public issues that
affect the masse. But now that Baba is dead, Fashola is now here to
show fake familiarity"
Another activist said it was now common for politicians to take
advantage of the death of Comrades to woo families and relations of
the bereaved.
"They did same when Gani Fawehinmi died. They hated him when he was
alive because he spoke bitter truth to them and also challenged them
to court especially on fake Toronto certificate of Tinubu, but after
his death, they began pretending they were best of friends with him
and began creating park and programs to deceive the public", a civil
society leader who was present during the incidence said.
"That has become their forte. They suppress voices of the masses but
whenever a strong activist whose voice gave them nightmare dies, they
rejoice by sponsoring his funeral", he added.
The Lagos State Government tarred the Chief Onitana Street where Baba
Omojola lived as part of gestures for his funeral. During a brief chat
with SaharaTV crew recently, son of Baba Omojola, Akinola Omojola
commented that it takes a prominent person to die for Government to
repair a road in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation,
Mr. Kayode Opeifa was also booed recently as he strayed into the night
of tributes and socials in memory of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
"They are all hypocrites and we will continue to embarrass them if
they won't stop insulting us to our face by pretending they were
friends with our gone heroes", a protester said.

No comments:

Post a Comment