I sent only 14 destitute back to Anambra -Fashola

As the controversy surrounding the alleged ‘deportation’ of beggars and destitute people to Anambra State continues to rage, the Lagos State governor, Friday, stated that only 14 people were sent home to their families.


In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State governor, noted that the state’s “humanitarian gesture” had been misunderstood or manipulated to create misunderstanding.

“The facts are that 14, not 70 or 72 destitutes were picked up on the streets of Lagos as part of a continuous exercise to assist vulnerable citizens who roam our streets without food, or shelter and a number who have medical ailments, usually in the nature of mental infirmity,” said Mr. Fashola.

The Lagos State governor said that the destitute people themselves disclosed that they were from Anambra and sought assistance to go home.

“It remains unclear to me why the Governor of Anambra chose the media as the first place of complaint if he was truly aggrieved,” Mr. Fashola said.

“He has not called me as he has done in the past on less important matters, and I have not received any letter from him,” he added.

Following the accusations and counter accusations trailing the destitute people’s repatriation, Peter Obi, the Anambra State governor, wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan describing the action as “cruel.”

Mr. Obi’s strongly worded letter to the president threatened to retaliate the Lagos government’s “dumping of 72 persons” in the state.
Mr. Fashola said that the Anambra governor was economical with the truth, insisting that the figure was 14 persons.

He also faulted the Anambra State government’s failure to respond to its requests to help identify the persons.

A series of correspondences between both states, made public by the Lagos State government, showed that Anambra State failed to assume its own responsibility.

In a letter dated 9th April, 2013, and addressed to the Anambra State Liaison Officer in Victoria Island, Lagos; Lagos government solicited the assistance of Anambra to screen the 14 destitute people.

“I am to inform you that fourteen (14) persons who claimed to be indigenes of your state are currently in our centre awaiting your response towards evacuation and integration with their families, back in Anambra State,” read the letter signed by O. T Ajao, Special Adviser, Office of Youth and Social Development.

In its 15th April, 2013, response, Anambra State requested the particulars of the 14 alleged indigenes of the state to enable it “make proper enquiry as to finding out their true origin.”

“The above request is of urgent importance, to facilitate their integration with their families if they are from Anambra,” the letter signed by Chukwudum Ucheoma, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, read.

On 29 April, 2013, Lagos State responded, forwarding the particulars of the 14 indigenes, and further requesting the presence of Anambra State officials at its Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Ikorodu, to conduct a physical identification through interaction with them.

There was no further response from Anambra State, according to the Lagos government-released correspondences.

“Unfortunately, inspite of our request to the Anambra government officials to come and validate and identify these people who claimed to be from Anambra which was what our social workers were told, the Anambra government agency did not respond,” Mr. Fashola said.

Mr. Fashola reiterated that Lagos remains a home and refuge for all law abiding citizens.

“Our ability to live mutually and co-exist peacefully has been critical to the progress we have recorded here and nothing will jeopardize that relationship,” he added.

Source: Premium Times