.Kicks against renewed attempt by Ambode
By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
Again the Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) in collaboration with “Our Water, Our Right groups” comprising over 20 civil society groups have kicked against renewed attempt by out-going Lagos state governor Akinwumi Ambode to privatize water in the state.
During a sensitization programme at Ojodu in Lagos, on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, ERA asked Lagosians to continue to resist fresh attempt by Ambode to implement the project before he leaves office.
The speakers at the town hall gathering included: Comrade Tunji Buhari, Comrade Phillip Jakpor (ERA, Head, Media & Campaigns), Veronica Nwanya (Africa Women Water Sanitation and Hygiene Network) as well as Hon. Babalola Medayedupin among others.
They were unanimous in their different presentations that “Our Water, Our Rights groups with active Lagosians cannot allow Ambode to implement their privatization agenda.”
The group said that they were in Epe on Monday to sensitize the citizenry with plans to tour other constituencies again, adding, “they will not stop with the sensitization of the Lagos public until government totally gives up, genuinely in their anti-people project.
The group warned: “We are cautioning Governor Ambode to be careful of his action on water privatization. He should not hand Lagos water to private business groups or multinationals because we will resist it,”.
They warned Ambode to stop the move to privatize water, and Pedaling Private Profit, insisting that the secret move to privatize water was against the interest of the common people.
According to the group, “The position of our group, Our water Our right group, is that access to clean, hygienic water is an inalienable right which governments at all levels should protect and not ‘commodify’.
The group has vowed to confront any state government in the country that is toying with the idea of privatizing water, insisting that the initiative will further pauperize the poor masses.
Speakers who spoke from the Ojodu community, including Dauda Ishola and Wasiu Omoniyi all thanked ERA, and all groups in Our water, Our Rights group for all its enlightenment commitments, just as they pledged that they would ensure they pass the information to others, even beyond their wards.
