Market Leaders and Traders Association of Nigeria (MALETAN) Lagos State chapter, has called on the Lagos State Government, concerned persons and groups to address the challenges affecting peaceful coexistence in the state.
The President of the association, Mr Christopher Okpala, made the call at a news conference on developments in the state and as it affect its members in the trading community, on Thursday in Lagos.
The News of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okpala was in company of his Vice, Benjamin Nweke and Secretary, Okey Enwuru.
He said that addressing the anomalies would help to boost the progress recorded in the state and Nigeria at large.
He said the association, trader’s rights protection initiative, had been following recent developments in the state in the last eight months; prior to the general elections to date.
According to him, after careful observation, studies and evaluations, the association came out with the position that will help to heal all wounds and uproot ill feelings.
He noted that it equally removes all manners of divisive seeds of bigotry, redirects the patriotic zeal and passion of all stakeholders.
Okpala said that achieving this would help contribute to the drive of the mantra of excellence in the state and development of Nigeria in general.
Okpala, advised those being used by desperate politicians to have a rethink, be remorseful, retrace their steps, and desist from divisive politicking in the future.
As an organisation, he called the government not to allow the ugly incidents of the pre-election and election periods to be swept under the carpet.
The MALETAN boss urged the government to prosecute anyone identified to have caused mayhem on innocent residents of the state during the period under reference.
“It is also important that the Lagos State Government should start building confidence in residents of the state whose trust in the state have been eroded due to the roles played by some politicians and their agents prior, during and after the general elections.
“A situation worsened by the recent comment of Hon. Mudasiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, during his inaugural speech, which suggested that there will be legislations that will be enacted for the protection of a particular set of people and against another set living in the same Lagos State.”
“We want to believe that governance should be people-oriented and not anti-people, and that those entrusted with leadership should live by example of statesmanship, expected of them,” he said.
