Ebola: Real governance begins from Lagos, lawmakers say

ikuforiji

Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Eromosele Ebhomele

Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji
Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday commended the entire residents of the state in the western part of Nigeria for their cooperation, sensitivity and proactive responses to government’s efforts in combating the Ebola Virus Disease that threatened the nation’s health system in July 2014.

The House also said the effort of the state government during that period has shown that true governance is possible in the country if the citizens make the right choices of candidates during elections.

A statement from the spokesman of the House, Segun Olulade, following the declaration by the World Health Organisation, WHO, that Nigeria is now Ebola free 42 days after the last isolated person was discharged and given a clean bill of health, noted that the rapid response by the government, dissemination of awareness information by civil society organisations and health workers and prayers by the people were largely responsible for success recorded in the fight against the virus.

The statement said the leadership exampled demonstrated by Lagos state remains another testimony to the fact that the state is really a Centre of Excellence in all ramifications, and another pointer to the fact that the All Progressives Congress, APC, leads people-oriented government in states that it governs.

“The Ebola virus touched Lagos and Rivers states (both APC states) and the rapid response of the governors of both states were a major factor at stopping the spread of the virus.

“How best can we have best example in leadership and governance than to be sensitive to the protection of the lives of our people?” Olulade asked.

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Moshood Oshun
Moshood Oshun

The House also commended the state government for planning to send volunteers to Sierra-Leone to assist in the fight against the disease.

The statement said that the Lagos State has capacity to respond to any external challenge with the cooperation of Lagosians, but advised that in spite of the pronouncement of Nigeria as Ebola-free by WHO, the citizens should not lower their guards against the disease and other vulnerable diseases.

Also, while expressing gratitude to the state government, the House Committee Chairman on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Moshood Oshun, said he was the proudest person to hear the news.

“The Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, is located in my constituency. So, you could imagine the level of fear that pervaded my constituency.

“At a time, I had to organise a sensitisation programme for my people in Mainland Constituency 2 where the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, with the government was invited to speak to the people,” he recalled explaining that after the event, the fear was abated.

“I am happy to be in this government. Governor Fashola has shown that what it takes to make Nigeria a successful country is just the determination and focus of its leaders. We need more of this kind of government in Nigeria,” the lawmaker aspiring for the House of Representatives in the 2015 general elections, said.

Oshun asked the people of the state to continue to support the government for Lagos to maintain the status as one of the fastest growing states in the world.

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