The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Wednesday received the report of the Tribunal of Enquiry into the 2007 students riot at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, stating that people must always engage in the most civilised platforms by which to get their grievances across.
The governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, where he received the report from the five-man tribunal led by the Chairman, Prof. Idowu Shobowale, said that aggrieved people must think of platforms which would not, in the end, hurt them or the people who, ordinarily, would be their sympathisers.
Fashola stressed that freedoms and democracy have been built on the right to speak, the right to be heard and the right to participate, but that within the exercise of those rights, there is no right to be violent.
He reiterated that what the Tribunal of Enquiry has investigated is the circumstances that led to a riot which is different from a protest, adding that a protest is a legitimate thing, while a riot is unlawful according to the law.
“I think some of the lines have been typified by some highlights of the executive summary about damage to properties which clearly is unlawful. Whatever the grievance maybe, it is not a civilized way to get a right either to be recognised or enforced,” he stressed.
Fashola maintained that citizens, whether adults or children, workers or students, must understand that the time has come to put an end to any act of destruction in the form of riot, adding that Nigerians must show that they are civilised people.
He added: “While watching what has happened in Hong Kong recently, students are protesting, but I don’t see them smashing cars, I don’t see them burning buildings, I don’t see them breaking down stores. But even as they recognise that their actions are inflicting pains on the larger society, they are reviewing and engaging in dialogue with the authorities.”
Fashola gave a commitment that the present administration would do everything possible to make the learning institutions better, but that it is not everything that is possible at the time that it is demanded.
He maintained that such things have to be planned as there has to be structures and a sequence to be followed so that government does not end up attending to one and leaving the others unattended to.
The governor promised that the content of the report would be internalized and its recommendations brought before the State Executive Council for consideration and acceptance as proposed or with modifications necessary for the emergence of a government white paper on it.
The governor thanked the members of the Tribunal for the time, energy and service devoted to the exercise, stressing that it is exertion and service in a very important sector of the people’s lives, which is in the institutions of learning.
Speaking earlier, Shobowale gave an assurance that the tribunal did a good job and made far reaching recommendations that it believes, if implemented, would go a long way in arresting such ugly incidents in the future.
He said a particular reason why all hands must be on deck to eliminate any form of irresponsible and destructive tendencies by students at all levels of education in the state is because it is anti-growth and development.
He said: “When facilities provided with the tax payer’s hard earned money are vandalized, a number of things happen. First, progress is halted, the facilities cannot be expanded or added to; rather they have to be replaced. Other areas of need are thus, denied. Sir, this kind of self inflicted but senseless retardation must be stopped in our society.”
Other members of the Tribunal include Prof. Funke Lawal, Dr Babatunde Lawal, Engineer A.A. Adenekan, Barrister O.T. Osikoya and the Secretary, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajayi.
The governor was joined by members of the State Executive Council, including his Deputy, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaiye; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ranti Adebule; and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba.