February 21, 2015 – For the second time in two years, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola was visibly angry with photojournalists over their unbridled use of flash lights in attempt to document memorable events in photographs.
Fashola who was speaking at the Annual State Council of Health meeting in Lagos said flashlights from the cameras are very dangerous to the eyes.
He called on the Ministry of Health to educate photojournalists on the dangers of flashlights to the eyes. “The Ministry of Health must educate the photojournalists to do things without endangering my health”, the governor said as journalists continue to launch a barrage of flashlights into his eyes.
The governor was receiving an award as Governor of the Republic and Healthcare Man of the Year from Healthcare Magazine.
“As I was receiving the award, I was looking down to protect myself and they kept saying, look up, look up, I didn’t look up”, the governor said.
The governor had in the past championed the cause for photojournalists to stay away some distance from their subject to avoid blocking and chocking their subjects the way it is done in developed countries and falling back on skillful manipulation of the lens. Fashola is not alone in this.
The governor also used the occasion to appeal to striking doctors to sheath their sword, stressing that medical doctors are like God that does not go on strike.
“You are like God on earth, God does not go on strike”, he said adding that medical doctors have a duty to save lives.
