Online Special • Created March 18, 2020 20:38

Pressure mounts on Buhari to visit scene of Lagos explosion 

More than 72 hours after an explosion rocked the Abule-Ado area in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to visit the scene of the incident, Daily Trust reports. However, a cross-section of Nigerians including lawyers and Civil Society Organisations, who described the incident as a ‘national tragedy’ have […]

Pressure mounts on Buhari to visit scene of Lagos explosion 

More than 72 hours after an explosion rocked the Abule-Ado area in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to visit the scene of the incident, Daily Trust reports.

However, a cross-section of Nigerians including lawyers and Civil Society Organisations, who described the incident as a ‘national tragedy’ have continued mounting pressure on President Buhari to personally visit the scene.

EDITOR’S PICK: Buhari condoles with victims of Lagos explosion

A former federal lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th assembly, Shehu Sani, on his official Twitter handle: @ShehuSani, charged the president to visit the scene of the explosion and meet with the families of the victims.

“Dear Baba, kindly do these three things: – Address the nation on the Coronavirus. – Visit the scene of the Lagos explosions and meet with the families of the victims. – Visit the Kerawa village in Kaduna State where 50 people were massacred recently,” he tweeted.

Also, speaking with our correspondent in a telephone interview, an Abuja-based lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said Nigerians should not be surprised about the President’s attitude towards the recent calamity.

He said, “Naturally, any leader who is concerned about the citizens, should at all time show empathy when they experience national tragedy in the country.

“President Buhari’s reaction is not good enough but Nigerians should not be surprised because this has been his style since he came on board.

“I will implore Nigerians, let’s look beyond Buhari, let us look into a future where Nigerians can put in place, leaders who have genuine interest of people at heart, leaders who are not selfish, leaders who can champion the cause of the people and ensure that the welfare of the people is given needed attention.

“Personally, I’m disappointed at President Buhari for not visiting site of such a calamity. The most terrible thing is the fact that the Governor of Lagos state took pictures of the scenario and came down to Abuja to show President Buhari. This shows that we are not even serious about governance in this country.”

L-R: Sanwo-Olu, Buhari.

Similarly, the Civil Society Organisations, who spoke through the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust called on the President to take the issue as an important one.

According to him, “We think it is very important for the President to show sympathy to the victims of Lagos explosion. This is what leaders of other countries do when such calamity happens to their citizens. They go to the place physically and almost immediately.”

But a lawyer, Hameed Jimoh, while commenting, argued that the President has not flouted any law or Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended for not visiting the place. He noted that the most important thing is for him to send a delegation.

Daily Trust reports that President Buhari had earlier on Sunday condoled with families who lost their loved ones and all those affected by the explosion in Abule Ado, Lagos.

President Buhari, in a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu, had said that a misfortune of whatever scale anywhere is a tragedy to the country.

The President had also commiserated with the Lagos State Government and all residents affected by the unfortunate incident, which left many injured and destroyed property.

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