Our attention of has been drawn to an article in circulation ignorantly accusing a prominent Son of Epetedo Community, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Shakirdeen Sola Giwa, of all forms of corruption, imposition and romance with the opposition PDP.
While we will not dwell in politics and partisanship, As a Community Based Organization and advocate of the Masses, we will not fold our arms and watch ill-mannered elements posing as media personalities bring down our own. Therefore, we affirm and state as follows;
- Hon. Sola Giwa has been, and remains a blessing to Lagos Island particularly and the state in general.
- The decision of the Lagos State government to harmonize all Unions in the Maritime sector is the first and major reform to get rid of all ills in the industry. A very germaine, commendable act which must be supported by all.
- While we are not speaking for Hon. Taofeek Adeyinka Aroyewun, No one can deprive a citizen of Lagos any appointment in his state. If the state government desires to give the job to a round peg in the round hole, no one can stop the developmental strides of the government.
- If harmonizing all Unions in the Maritime sector is what ‘Mr Junk Journalism’ refers to creating problem, it is obvious the writer knows next to nothing.
- Accusing Sola Giwa as an extortionist is figment of Shakiru Fashina’s imagination, and a long medulla oblongata break down.
- Fashina Shakiru to our best of knowledge is a quack in the Media world seeking attention. We will not allow such a blindfolded mind whose penchant for lies and running people down has finally taking over his brain. He can’t see beyond his nose
For the records, let it be known that Hon. Sola Giwa, till date remains the best hand in the Transportation Sector. His knowledge of the sector, over a decade, has proven to be the best decision ever taken by the government. First, as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on LASTMA, SG, as he is fondly called, ensured many of our youths in Lagos Island got employed into the services of the Traffic Agency. Many of whom today are very Senior Officers. Asides that, it was under him that the idea of placing Cameras across the state became a reality. That act deterred criminals and brought sanity to our roads. Upon appointment as SSA CBD, we are all witnesses to the drastic turnaround in the activities of CBD Men, Unlawful road blockage, illegal activities on our Business Districts have been drastically eliminated. The clearance of the Apapa port is an indication of his tireless efforts. Following Sola Giwa’s initiation of the Call-Up system, the indiscriminate parking of Trucks on our roads became a thing of the past, as only trucks called to the port now ply our roads.
It is important to equally state that the appointment of Sola Giwa is in the right direction. Governor Sanwo-Olu has taking the best decision with that appointment. We are witnessing the sudden transformation in the Transportation Sector. From the Light Rail billed for commissioning in few weeks, to the launch of Life Saving Jackets, Situation Room and Monitoring Centres for our water ways, down to the reformation of Road Transport Union activities in Lagos.
Instead of finding ways to constructively address grey areas so as to encourage the government to do more, Fashina Shakiru is engaging in outright campaign of calumny meant to serve his paymasters who have reduced his thinking to a delusioned overbloated mouth.
We are afraid Shakiru Fashina can longer think straight, as he is so much in a hurry to run down what God has made. Forgetting that anyone fighting the decision of God is not only a walking corpse, but also a man living a shattered life filled with an ill-conceived, envy, hatred and derailed mindset.
It is our candid advice that Fashina Shakiru further his education in Mass Media and Journalism to enable him understand the rudiments of the job. Instead of wallowing in abject poverty of thoughts, He should redirect his strength toward gaining wisdom to be able to fit into the reality.
Lawal Shitta
Secretary General, OEF
