Etim Ekpimah
The Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended the peace walk owing to the rising cases of Omicron variant of the COVID-19.
The governor, who said this on Thursday via a press statement, thanked civil society leaders, business leaders within and outside Lagos, religious leaders, market associations, and more for expressing their willingness to join him in the peace walk.
The statement read: “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 preparing 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.”
According to him, the state is chosen to be guided not by our emotions, but expert opinions rooted in science. He added that between Tuesday 30, November 2021 that he made his address and now, Lagos State has 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,” the governor said.