February 3, 2015 – The Lagos state Government has accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of vandalizing equipment and artifacts kept at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park during a campaign rally the party held recently in Lagos.
Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello who disclosed this to journalists said the level of vandalisation at the park located in Ojota area of the state was appalling .
He lamented the high level of destruction and vandalisation of monument and equipment built with tax payer’s money, saying it is the third time in the life of this administration that such a show of recklessness is been displayed by PDP members.
Bello said while the state government is not against the use of the park by individuals, public it should be noted that they were built for public use and not for political rallies.
The commissioner who frowned against the wanton destruction of the entire landscaped site and equipment that adorn the park in the name of a rally, said despite the fact that the facility was built by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government it does not use it for rallies.
“A Park is indeed different from an open space. We have a lot of open spaces across the state which they can use rather than destroy our lush green parks that has given the state a lot of public acclaim. Nowhere in the world would you display such indecency and lack of respect to the people, where you publicly harass and chase away workers who maintain these parks because you control the Police and the Army.
“Similar acts of impunity was also displayed by the PDP led Government, through the clamp down on corporate advertisers in the state, where they forcibly with the backing of the Police removed paid adverts on street lamppost , billboards across the state. This is gross abuse of Power and Authority over the people you want to govern.”
Bello wondered how a party that intends to govern Lagos could exhibit such a high level of public indecency, with its members openly chasing away operators of the park, while they carted away recreation facilities and looted the stores where equipments were kept.
He said some of the facilities damaged at the park include bust of the late freedom fighter, Gani Fewehinmi , about 100 animated features, mound, borehole, sprinklers, and pumping washing that were carted away by the party members.
The Commissioner observed that restoring the landscaped site to its original state, will cost the state tax payers a lot.
The Commissioner advised that there are several open spaces, grounds across the state that can be used for campaign and rallies rather than destroy facilities built with Tax Payers money.
Bello called on the Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and the State Commissioner of Police to take note and follow up on the development.
