The Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Olajide Adediran also known as Jandor and his running mate Funke Akindele have come under fire by the All Progressives Congress APC for paying visit to the owners of vehicles auctioned by the state government for traffic offences.
The APC spokesperson in the state, Seye Oladejo who condemned their visit in a statement described it as the promotion of lawlessness.
At least 134 impounded vehicle were auctioned by the Lagos State government at the state Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja, for various traffic offences on Thursday.
Truthlive.net had reported that the public sale was done amid tears as several of the offenders who could not afford to pay had their vehicles auctioned to highest bidders right before their eyes.
Several of them claimed they had no other sources of livelihood this the sale of their vehicles rendered them jobless and barely able to fend for their families.
Jandor and Akindele visited two of the owners of the auctioned vehicles, Mr Lateef Kolapo and Mr Osinachi Ndukwe after the auctioning exercise.
During their visit, the duo condemned the state government’s penalty describing it as harsh while pledging that the traffic law would be repealed by their government.
The PDP gubernatorial aspirants were seen in a viral video if their visit saying, “When you are on the wrong side of the law, yes there should be a penalty, but there shouldn’t be a penalty that will take our means of livelihood. That is what we are speaking against. So, my coming here is to see Mr Kolapo and assure him of hope.
“As we speak, that is thaae law of the state, unfortunately. But the coming government, by His grace, will repeal this law to ensure that irrespective of what you have done wrong on our road, we won’t take your means of livelihood.
“We will make sure we penalise but not to the point of taking what you use in catering for your family away from you.”
Ndukwe who narrated his experience disclosed that he was sentenced to three months imprisonment for driving against the traffic, adding that his vehicle was impounded. During his jail term, he lost his three-year-old daughter and after he served the jail term, his bus was eventually auctioned.
The PDP candidates commiserated with Ndukwe for his loss and reiterated that despite their stance against violation of traffic laws, the state should not take away the offenders’ means of livelihood.
Meanwhile reacting to their visit, APC asserted that the PDP Governorship caandidates have graduated from playing politics with human lives to blatantly encouraging the break down of law and order in our dear state.
Part of the statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to the recent characteristic charade of the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos state, Jide Adediran.
“It’s saddening that Jandor and his deputy, Funke Akindele, have graduated from playing politics with human lives to blatantly encouraging the break down of law and order in our dear state.”
“The move of Jandor amounts to turning compassion and charity on its head.”
“It was pathetic that he simply interpreted the loss of his hosts to having their means of livelihood taken away from them when in actual fact, people have lost their lives to accidents as a result of driving against traffic.”
“However, we are not surprised by the promotion of lawlessness by the opposition party as it remains consistent with their desperation as we count down to the next elections.”
“Their role in the spread of Covid with the promotion and sponsorship of needless mass gatherings- ENDSARS- during pandemic and the social events hosted by his deputy, Funke Akindele are pointers to the lawlessness of the duo and their party.”
“We expect Funke to be eternally grateful to the state governor for receiving less than a slap on her wrist for a life-threatening crime against the state.”
“There’s no doubt that good governance can only thrive where law and order prevail.”
“We recommend the recent honest admission of the former national deputy chairman of PDP, Chief Bode George, that the opposition party has no hope of winning elections in the South West to the political neophytes so that they can put their desperation in check.”
“They may wish to note that Lagosians are not fooled by their constantly playing to the gallery because they have nothing to offer.”
The APC reiterated the commitment of its government to the political will and duty to uphold the state laws at all times without succumbing to needless blackmail in the name of irresponsible politicking.