CDHR Tackles Lagos State Government Over Traffic Laws, Gives 21 Days To Abolish It

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Lagos State branch, has condemned the new schedule of executive order on Lagos traffic offences and their penalties saying it was a ploy to send Lagosians to prison.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the group has given the Lagos State Government 21 days to abolish it or face mass protest in the State.
They also called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to intervene and checkmate the government to avoid putting the motorists in more hardship in the state such as impounding of vehicles and imprisonment of offenders.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of CDHR, Lagos branch, Comrade Alex Omotehinse in a release.
“By this singular act of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led government of Lagos State, there will be increase in the number of prison inmates; the Lagos State prison that has already been  congested based on the criminalization of minor offences such as street trading, crossing of expressways etc. Several citizens have been imprisoned for their inability to pay fine of just N10,000 some of whom should have been converted to community service.”

He said that this so called executive order is an invitation to anarchy in the state, because few days after the announcement, it was widely reported that 13 drivers of 7up Company were charged to court for assaulting some LASTMA officials.

“This order is another way of extorting Lagosians by the law enforcement agency saddled with the responsibility to enforce the law. If the Governor really meant to address traffic congestion in Lagos we believe what he ought to have done first is to as a matter of urgency start the repair of roads in Lagos State rather than creating room for the exploitation of Lagos road users by his so called LASTMA officials under the pretence of enforcing executive order” the CDHR Chairman said.

Omotohinse said that the Governor should also know that laws are made for man as man is not made for law.

“We therefore state without any reservation that this so called executive order is purely anti-people, is uncalled for, is barbaric, is unacceptable, and we call on the Speaker and all members of the Lagos House of Assembly to quickly checkmate the Governor and call him to order because the CDHR will resist any form of anti people agenda in the state and if the assembly believes that they can be rubber stamp and fail to do the needful within 21  days after this press release, the CDHR will mobilize the good citizens of Lagos State in a million man march to protest this anti people so called executive order” he concluded.