Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has reacted to heated arguments generated over the repatriation of some Anambra indigenes.
The head of the state legislature said that the exercise, which is part of ways to rid the state of “security threats”, would continue.
Hon. Ikuforiji, in a chat with newsmen at the weekend, blamed the Anambra State Government for politicising the matter.
He also refuted claims that the destitute were ill-fed and tortured.
According to him, Similar people from other states like Kano, Oyo and Ogun, had in the past been moved back to their origin without their state governments heating up the polity.
“Nobody talked about deportation when Kano, Ogun and other states indigenes were removed and taken back to their states. The Governor has the right to call for the removal of people who are of security risk to the state,” he said.
“Also, when the Rivers State Government recently sent back some Lagosians, we accepted the decision in good fate. The state did not complain to the Federal Government or use the issue to attract public sympathy as being done by the Anambra State Government.”
Speaking further, he maintained that those sent back to their states were destitute only, adding that “the exercise will continue until our roads are safe.”
“They have no genuine means of livelihood and no known address. So, they are considered as illegitimate burden and as well as serious security challenge to the state.
“It is not the responsibility of the Lagos State Government to cater for indigenes of other states who are engaged in illegal livelihood. I don’t think it is right to allow destitutes to constitute themselves as a menace to our society,” Ikuforiji said.
Comments