We returned only 14 destitutes to Anambra – Fashola
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Friday said only 14, not 72, destitute people of South East extraction were recently returned to Anambra State by his government.
The governor made the clarification while receiving members of Aka Ikenga, an Igbo socio-political group, at the Government House, Ikeja.
Fashola said the number had been played up in the media to provoke ethnic and political sentiments, adding that the return of the persons was not political but was for re-integration.
He said: “The fact is that 14 people and not 70 or 72 destitute people were picked up on our streets as part of our routine exercise.
“Just last week, I read a report that a mentally ill woman at Oshodi was allegedly impregnated by somebody and immediately we rescued her and we commenced taking care of her.
“For us in Lagos, human life and welfare have no political colouration.
“Our government doesn’t care about where one comes from.
“Our responsibility is to serve everyone who depends and trust on the ability of the State Government irrespective of where they come from.”
Fashola explained that the affected people were not dumped in Onitsha as reported.
He said they were picked up from the streets, rehabilitated and returned to the South East, based on their own request.
The governor explained that the Anambra State Government was properly notified of the movement of the destitute persons.
He added that the state`s Liaison Office even asked for the details of the people to be moved.
Fashola said it was regrettable that Governor Peter Obi and other critics of the action had misunderstood the state government’s intention.
He said the action was taken in the interest of the affected persons.
Fashola said Lagos State thrived on its diversity and had been home to people from across the country for decades.
He said the state government`s action was not selective as destitute indigenes of other states, including those in the South West, had been routinely moved to their states.
The governor urged those aggrieved by the action to show understanding, saying it was not done with any ethnic or political colouration.
The President of the group, Goddy Nwazurike, who led members to Fashola`s office, said the development was disturbing, especially as the state had accommodated many Igbos for years.
While saying some people had capitalised on the issue to score political points, Nwazurike pledged that the group would do everything possible to calm nerves that might been frayed by the matter.
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