9th November, 2010
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, South West Nigeria has vowed to crush  armed robbers in the state, saying that his vision for the state was zero tolerance for crime.
The governor spoke when the Chinese Consulate office in Lagos donated 10 Jincheng security motorcycles to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, STF yesterday to combat crime in the state.
Fashola stated that criminals must be apprehended and brought to book to serve as deterrent to others who might want to go into crime, adding that the government would strive to be ahead of criminals in terms of proactive planning to curtail their activities.
“The investment in security does not finish. The criminals are daily devising new strategies and plotting new ways to achieve their aim. We must be ahead of them; we must overtake them and bring them to justice.
“Crime is a global phenomenon which has no boundaries. If there is crime anywhere in the world, it affects other parts as well. So it is in our enlightened interest to fight crime,†he stated.
The governor appealed to other corporate organizations to emulate the gesture of the Chinese Consulate by contributing to the STF so that the police would have the means to wage relentless war against criminals in the state.
The governor commended the police and other security agencies in the state for their commitment to fighting crimes.Speaking, the Chinese Consul General, Mr. Guo Kun, said the donation was to help the state government to curb crime in the state, saying that the Fashola administration had done well in waging war against crime.
Meanwhlie Governor Fashola on Monday received members of the United Patriotic Religious Family with a charge that as they pray for the election of God fearing leaders, they should also pray for God fearing followership.
The Governor who spoke at Lagos House Ikeja when the group led by Vice Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Cardinal James Odunmbaku paid him a courtesy visit, added that no leader can do it alone but would need the followers to exercise restraints.
Said he: “You must exercise some form of restraint. Do not put unnecessary demands on your leaders. If for example they ask you to wait, how do you react? How many of us can make changes without being in Government?â€
Speaking earlier, the leader of the group, Cardinal James Odunmbaku said the group which was formerly known as Christians and Muslims in Politics Forum changed its name due to increasing membership it was attracting across the 57 Local Government Councils and Development Areas in the state.
He commended Governor Fashola for bringing a breath of fresh air into politics with his novel achievements and simplicity.
Cardinal Odunmbaku added that the group serves as a forum for networking through beneficial fellowship for its members and is guided by value, integrity and sound ethics.
Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs Doyin Olusoga and members of the United Patriotic Religious Family including the Deputy leader, Alhaji Ganiyu Abayomi Badmus.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
