Saturday 3 August 2013

Documents Show Lagos Informed Anambra Government Before Alleged Deportation

We have seen documents (see below) which show that Lagos State government informed the Anambra state government that rehabilitated destitute and psychiatric cases in Lagos who were from Anambra State would be sent back to the state. If that were so, why is the Anambra govt behaving as if they did not know Lagos government was bringing them home? We have seen 7 letters including correspondences between Anambra and Lagos dating as far back as 9th April on this matter.
We have sent a request to the Anambra State Government to shed more light on the purported agreement for this exchange of destitutes and beggars. And why governor Obi wrote a letter of protest to President Goodluck Jonathan if that were so.

Governor Obi had claimed in the protest letter that "Lagos State did not even bother to consult with Anambra State authorities, before deporting 72 persons considered to be of Igbo extraction to Anambra State, is illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant violation of the human rights of these individuals and of the Nigerian Constitution."
While we wait for their response, what had been thought of as a matter of deportation has raised questions as elombah.com investigated the development.
We discovered a letter from. Lagos govt to anambra titled: "Integration of. Beggars/Destitute with their parents" dated 9th April; Anambra govt reply asking for the supply of identities was dated 15th April; Lagos compliance attaching list as requested and inviting Anambra govt to visit rehab and identify claimers was dated 29th April.
Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola( SAN) the Governor of Lagos State insists that contrary to claims, the issue in question has nothing to do with deportation, but a Social Welfare Intervention, involving several homeless destitutes and other psychiatric cases roaming the streets and some living under the bridges in Lagos. These people were taken in and treated and cared for by the Lagos State Government free of charge and thereafter needed to be reintegrated with their families.
After this rehabilitation the affected people disclosed their true identities and the disclosure revealed that 14 of them were from Anambra State. For the purpose of reintegration with their kith and kin back home( most of them had nobody in Lagos) and for further social support and care, Lagos State Government communicated the Anambra State Government as well as other affected state governments to come forward and identify and take over their people. (see letter as annex 1)
On receipt of this communication, Anambra State Government requested for the identities of those claiming to be from the state( see letter as annex 2). The list was promptly supplied to them by Lagos State for immediate and urgent action( see letter as annex 3).
The Lagos State Government further explained that this kind of exchange of destitutes occur between states, as she recently went to Akwa Ibom State to take back two of her rehabilitated citizens.( see letter as annex 4).
Indeed, the mega-city project of the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola regime started shortly after he assumed office in June 2007 with the radical cleaning up of Oshodi, hitherto notorious for its clutter and criminality.
It was followed up with the beautification and greening of many erstwhile dirty and dark spots all over the state and thus giving the city a great facelift.








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