Press Releases

Reception For Jailed PDP Chieftain: Fashola Raises Alarm Over Desecration Of Values

Mar 3, 2011 - Worried by the open display of insensitivity shown in the elaborate welcome reception organized for a convicted chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday called attention to the danger posed by the rapid desecration of values in the country.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the open grounds of Lagos House, Ikeja when he received the senior officers and members of the Lagos State Scout Council on a solidarity rally to express support for the candidature of the Governor in the April 2011 polls said the event that took place in Lagos last Saturday is giving him concern.

The Governor explained that the event makes it difficult for him to explain to this generation of children that hardwork still pays. "Those events trouble me and raised very profound questions about the moral values that the leadership of this country offers".

"It is a sign that calls for profound soul searching because the children are going to ask questions about why we should insist that they must go to school if those who breached the law are celebrated. Why should we preach that they must work hard when those who cut corners are celebrated?".

Governor Fashola reiterated that as Boys Scout, now is the time for each and everyone to rise up and resist the message which is not a representation of the real Nigerian personality.

He added that as members of the Boys Scout movement, there is a lot to be done because the organization is rooted in the values of honour, integrity, discipline and integrity which the majority should not sit idle and allow a few to destroy.

"Those are values on which great nations and great societies have been built. Values which border on consistent torch passage of leadership honour", he noted.

He urged all Nigerians to be wary because as the election approaches, some parties will make promises to Lagosians about how much they love the State, adding that the question to ask them is what they have been doing before now when it is only four weeks before the elections.

You should ask: "Are those promises mere electoral carrots because if they really care they would have done something about the Airport Road, if they really care, they would have done something about the Apapa Oshodi Expressway".

"Tell them that you do not want electoral carrots but the real dividends of democracy. The Government that begins to work for you from the very first day it was inaugurated. That is what the Action Congress of Nigeria government has done".

"When we started, they said we will soon get tired. They said we were running a marathon race like a sprint and running too fast, but we told them that they have seen nothing yet. Our people ran a hard marathon in the sun and the rain to vote for us.

"We do not take those votes lightly. It is a social contract that binds us in honour to give everything that we have to make their life better. In the last four years, we have made your life better and in the next four years, we will make your lives even more better", he reiterated.

Governor Fashola explained that the present administration resuscitated voluntary organizations because it was concerned about values and the fact that it was concerned that the society was particularly challenged by a crises of diminishing values.

He explained that Government felt that if children were to be asked to keep away from secret cults, an alternative must be provided by ensuring that all public schools now have this clubs.

He said in recognition of the fact that some parents might not be able to afford uniforms, Government also provided the uniforms free of charge because it did not want any children to be left out.

Governor Fashola said it is gratifying to note that among the several hundreds of thousands of students who enlisted to join one organization or the other, 19,000students decided to join the Boys Scout that day.

He thanked the Scout Commissioners and Chairman of the Scout Commission who despite their advanced age still found time to pass the torch by investing their time in still wearing the scout uniform and reconnecting their youth to the children, challenging them to rise and take leadership.

While thanking the members of the Lagos State Scout Council for their public display of support, Governor Fashola promised not to let them down.

Speaking earlier, the Lagos State Scout Commissioner, Dr Bosun Arileshere said the Boys Scout members have come to show their appreciation to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for the scouting way he has been carrying out his duties.

He said the solidarity march is aimed at reasserting their support for the Governor for the good job he has been doing in the past four years and to urge him continue with it.

Dr Arileshere said the Lagos State Governor deserves a mention in the Guinness Book of Records because of the feat he recorded by successfully enrolling 19,000 young pupils into the Lagos State Scout Council on a single day.

Also present at the rally were the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji Adele, other members of the State Executive Council, the Action Congress of Nigeria Senatorial Candidate in Lagos East, Mr Gbenga Ashafa and many top officials of the Lagos State Scout Council and members.