The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cancelled his planned Lagos Peace Walk on fears of Omicron, the latest variant of the COVID-19.
In a statement on Thursday, governor Sanwo-Olu declared that he is “constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace” so as not to “endanger the life of any Lagosian” against the background of the Omicron variant of the pandemic.
Sanwo-Olu had on November 30, 2021, extended an invitation to some of the people involved in the EndSARS protest in October 2020 to participate in a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos” this month.
While a few of those he invited rejected to participate in the march, there was still hope that the programme would hold.
Among those invited by the governor were Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu; and Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti.
The Students Union of the Lagos State University was among those who openly accepted to participate in the March.
However, a few of those invited, including Falz, Mr Macaroni, Kuti, rejected the invitation, insisting on justice being given to the victims of the EndSARS protest shooting at the Lekki Tollgate.
Below is the governor’s speech:
LET’S PIVOT TO WORK FOR PEACE
Since my last address to you, the good people of Lagos State on Tuesday 30, November 2021, during which I expressed a desire to lead a Walk for Peace, following the outcome of the work of the Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters, I have been inundated with deep expressions of solidarity from various groups and people declaring their readiness to join me on the symbolic walk.
Indeed, I owe a special debt of gratitude to our youths and students, who reached out to either members of my team or directly to me, expressing their readiness to join me on the planned Walk for Peace. They include many of our Civil Society Leaders, business leaders within and outside of Corporate Lagos, religious leaders, members of the Diplomatic Community, entertainers, Market Associations, Trade Associations, and Women Groups who have committed time and resources to prepare for the Peace Walk. I thank you all.
When the unseen enemy called Covid-19 began to ravage the world and indeed our nation, I assumed the role of the Incident Commander in our quest to protect the lives of our people. We subjected ourselves to the dictates of science. We chose to be guided not by our emotions, but by expert opinions rooted in science. Between Tuesday 30, November 2021 that I made my address, and now, we have seen a significant rise in cases associated with the Omicron variant of this pandemic.
Given this development, I am constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace. I will not endanger the life of any Lagosian in my sincere search for peace. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the initiative received from far and near. The deluge of support is, however, indicative of one thing: our people know the strategic place of peace to our quest for development.
I look forward to engaging with you as WE TOGETHER WORK FOR PEACE!
God bless Lagos State
