Civil society groups berate Sanwo-Olu over corruption in LASEMA

A Coalition of Civil Society Groups has expressed displeasure over Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State tolerance of corruption in the last three years.

According to the group, the war against corruption has shown that the perversion in the polity, is still high, adding that the idea has defeated the governor’s commitment to curbing the menace from government agencies in the state.

Outlining the achievements and shortcomings of Sanwo-Olu’s anti-corruption efforts in the year 2021, the group said it was regrettable that the governor had failed to capitalise on the outcry and petitions of various categories of Lagosians raised against the conduct of many of his appointees, aimed at exposing corruption in government establishments.

Spokesman of the group, Idowu Israel, alleged that the governor has shown the tendency to condone corruption under his administration, as he has consistently turned a blind eye to malfeasance by some of his own appointees.

The groups, however, singled out the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, as a key agency stinking with corrupt practices.

It also alleged that the refusal of the Lagos State governor to order a probe into the activities of the agency, despite appeals by stakeholders, have continued to expose the agency to public ridicule both in Lagos and beyond.

The civil society groups cited a recent legal dispute, involving the agency’s Director-General, Dr Femi Osanyintolu and his estranged mistress, which is now before the court, as a further confirmation of how well corrupt practices is stinking in the agency.

The group said: “It is undoubted, that LASEMA remains one of the most corrupt and mismanaged agencies of the Lagos State government, yet, the Governor has been acting helpless in taking the needed steps in investigating the agency, despite its strategic position in managing issues which directly concern the safety of lives and properties of the people of Lagos State.

“We wish to restate our demand that the governor order a thorough investigation into the activities of the management of LASEMA under Osanyintolu, as this remains a major integrity test, for Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, and we are determined to continually demand this.”