A non-governmental organisation, the Save Lagos Group (SLG), has called on Lagosians to beware of the antics of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, whom it accused of embarking on anti-people programmes and policies.

In a statement issued by the Convener, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, in Lagos on Thursday, the Save Lagos Group faulted the state government, saying most of its policies and programmes are aimed at further deepening poverty and misery of the people of the state if left unchecked.

“We as members of the Save Lagos Group, we are worried by the policies and programmes of the current administration of the state led by Ambode. We are worried because while the last government led by Babatunde Raji Fashola did all it could to positively and productively engage the people of the state, this government is deepening their misery,” he wrote.

Sulaiman listed some of the anti-people policies of the State Government since inception to include the decision to restrict the movement of operators of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme from dedicated routes, schemes to throw away operators of Private Sector Participation (PSP) agreement in waste management in the state “as well as the failed LAKE RICE project.”

While sounding a note of caution, Sulaiman appealed to the people of the state “to act and prevent themselves from the emerging dictatorship in the state.” He said: “The actions of the Akinwunmi Ambode-led executive in the last few weeks if left unchecked by the people of the state, will lead to a breach of peace in the state.”

He added that when people are left at the last rung of the economic ladder, the tendency for rise in crime rate becomes rife as the people will be left with nothing but how to survive in a harsh environment being created by the present government.

Sulaiman also faulted the claims of the state government on the availability of the much advertised LAKE RICE, saying it was a scheme to deceive the people of the state as many of the designated spots where government claimed the product was on sale are empty with nothing to indicate that the masses would benefit from the gesture.

“We are at a loss regarding the intention of the state government on the availability of the much advertised LAKE RICE in the state. We were told that the collaborative efforts between the state government and its counterpart in Kebbi would bridge the demand gap for rice in the state but unfortunately, it has however worsened the situation. We can’t find the commodity anywhere across the state,” he said.

On the bill pending before the House of Assembly to regulate the waste management sector of the state, SLG warned the House of Assembly members to stay action on the bill as a case between the two parties is pending in court.

“We are calling on the members of the assembly not to run against the law by committing contempt of the court. Since the matter is pending in the court of law, they should wait till all legal processes have been exhausted before going ahead of the draconian bill which is targeted against the people of the state,” Sulaiman said.

He noted that it is the responsibility of the State Government to provide a conducive environment for businesses to thrive for employment to be generated for the teeming youths of the state and not to act as the clog in the efforts of the businesses to thrive and prosper.

“To us at Save Lagos Group, the government should at all times ensure that businesses in the state thrive and not to be the clog that would hinder their progress. The attempt to throw members of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAN) out of business should resisted by all using all legal and constitutional means that could be mustered,” Sulaiman stated.

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