A rights activist and Convener of the Royal Peoples Platform (RPP), Dare Aladekoba, has appealed to elder statesman, Chief Bode George, to always consider the psyche of the people in his several comments to avoid being misconstrued as antagonist to the performance of those in government.
The activist in a chat with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, said George’s remark about officials of the Lagos State government being non-indigenes could be misunderstood by many as a direct attack on them, stressing the need for him to focus on development that would do all Lagos residents a lot of good.
Aladekoba, who said there were those he identified as ‘true owners of the state’, was of the conviction that utterances that could ginger all and sundry to put all hands on deck indiscriminately to move the state forwards are expected more from senior citizens in the community like Chief Bode George whose views are highly respected.
Speaking further, the social critic and human rights activist advised that elders’ remarks should always be advisory for the people on whose responsibility rests the affairs of the state with a view to guiding them alright and not to distract them.
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According to him, the importance of an advisory role from the elders can never be over-emphasised because of its being an essential tonic of encouragement for those behind the steering wheel of the state.
He reminded that “when those in office are doing well, it would rob off positively on everybody irrespective of political leaning, religious belief or social inclination.
“Against this backdrop, we wish to appeal to all our leaders, whose opinions are almost laws, to always endeavour to weigh their remarks very well, having it in mind that they can make or mar the well-being of the masses who look up to them for guidance and direction.
“In the light of this, remarks that have tendencies to cause disharmony, hatred and mutual suspicion should be avoided in the interest of the generality of the people.
“Like now, what is expected from all well-meaning residents of Lagos is support and cooperation with the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration to win the battle against COVID-19 while the economy is not allowed to suffer,” he added.
