Group tells Ambode to revisit Traffic Law

OKUNADE ADEKUNLE
The Concern Human Rights (CHR), has called on the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to revisit the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012, stating that the law has failed the test of time and as well controversial.
The group, through its National Coordinator, Declan Ihekaire, stated this in a Press Conference held in Lagos, stressing that the Traffic law 2012 earned its controversial nature because of its failure to truly put together the basic provisions.
Ihekaire stressing further that it will be inimical to hinge the failure of the law on the tricycle operators by restricting them on the routes which are not spelt by the law.
He added “it is sad to note that the way the Fashola administration decided to look the other side while the so-call traffic law was flouted during the 2015 general elections. Why did the government decided to keep mute and relax the enforcement of the law. Is it the case of deceiving the people to vote and now turning the sword against them?”
He explained “the common occurrence is that while the state government through the police, LASTMA and other law enforcement agencies chase the tricycle riders up and down like the hunter after a game, the Local government on the other hand has turned them into a cash cow issuing all sorts of parking permits and operational licenses within the so-called “restricted areas. Thus double standard has in no small way turned the government into a laughing stock”
“As a way of retracting from the limitation of its immediate predecessors what the Ambode government need is to a military style 21 day ultimatum, rather the government should revisit the law and give it a democratic face”
“At this time in the life of Governor Ambode’s government we believe that the policy of the government must deviate from the draconian style of dictatorship from the Olympian height. Available information has revealed that in promulgation the controversial traffic law 2012, inputs from stakeholders were played down, otherwise while the agitations and controversial nature of the double-faced traffic law”
Calling on the Lagos state House of Assembly in its oversight function to join in settling the crisis between the state government and the tricycle operators, he stressed that  if Governor Ambode must learn from his predecessor he must realise that the style of dictatorship will only rather diminish the goodwill of its administration.