Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday said First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan was very insensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens residing in Lagos metropolis.

Fashola made the comment in reaction to a protracted traffic congestion occasioned by the arbitrary blockage of strategic roads on Lagos Island by Jonathan's security operatives on Thursday.

Fashola, who responded to the situation at a retreat organised for members of the State Executive Council and permanent Secretaries, condemned the approach of Jonathan's security aides.

According to the governor, it was brazen show of insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Nigerians that chose Lagos as their homes.
He explained that the approach indeed caused traffic jam that constrained motorists and road users, most of whom were reportedly groaning under heavy traffic congestion for hours while business activities in the state were adversely affected.

He said the situation which lasted for hours grounded business activities across the metropolis, mainly in areas such as Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Ahmadu Bello Way (on Victoria Island) through Alfred Rewane Road (formerly Kingsway Road), Awolowo Road (in Ikoyi); Catholic Mission Street, through Igbosere Road and Simpson Street, leaving several commuters trekking to their destinations.

Fashola said: “Lagos residents were terribly discomfiture yesterday with the traffic jam, needlessly, if I must say and it reasons on me the need for public officers generally to be more sensitive to the people we serve.”