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Activists Protest Governor Fashola's Presence At Baba Omojola's Burial

November 15, 2013

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola was greeted with series of embarrassing songs as he arrived home of late political activist, Baba Omojola after the his body arrived home for his lying-in-state at his family's residence in Surulre, Lagos State.

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola was greeted with series of embarrassing songs as he arrived home of late political activist, Baba Omojola after the his body arrived home for his lying-in-state at his family's residence in Surulre, Lagos State.

The governor arrived with his convoy unable to go into the premises due to presence of a van that contained speakers blaring comradely songs for the activists at the venue.

The van was used to obstruct movement of vehicles into the residence. Upon his arrival however, aides of the governor who wanted to take their convoy in ordered that the van be removed for the governor, but the activists insisted the governor must alight from own his car and walk into the premises like others did. One activist, Debo Adeniran, who coordinated the van said with sarcarsm, that the governor could call his LASTMA officials to tow the van out of the way.

Upon realizing the seriousness of the activists, Mr. Fashola stepped down from his car and walked into the premises.

But as Mr. Fashola inched towards the house, more activists who had learned of his arrival took the microphone to sing anti-oppressor government song. Some lines in their songs tagged the governor "Ole-ole", translating to the calling the governor a  thief.

The activists also substituted imperative words into their chorus, asking Mr. Fashola to leave the event to avoid his further embarrassment.

It was not known whether the governor had intention to stay long enough to address participants, but he left soon as the chants by activists gained more tempo.

Asked why Mr. Fashola had to be rejected at the event, the activists told Saharareporters that the governor was only a hypocrite pretending to be familiar with the late Baba Omojola.

A comrade said: "You won't believe they (government) don't allow Baba into their office whenever he was there on pressing public issues that affect the masse. But now that Baba is dead, Fashola is now here to show fake familiarity"

Another activist said it was now common for politicians to take advantage of the death of Comrades to woo families and relations of the bereaved.

"They did same when Gani Fawehinmi died. They hated him when he was alive because he spoke bitter truth to them and also challenged them to court especially on fake Toronto certificate of Tinubu, but after his death, they began pretending they were best of friends with him and began creating park and programs to deceive the public", a civil society leader who was present during the incidence said.

"That has become their forte. They suppress voices of the masses but whenever a strong activist whose voice gave them nightmare dies, they rejoice by sponsoring his funeral", he added.

The Lagos State Government tarred the Chief Onitana Street where Baba Omojola lived as part of gestures for his funeral. During a brief chat with SaharaTV crew recently, son of Baba Omojola, Akinola Omojola commented that it takes a prominent person to die for Government to repair a road in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa was also booed recently as he strayed into the night of tributes and socials in memory of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

"They are all hypocrites and we will continue to embarrass them if they won't stop insulting us to our face by pretending they were friends with our gone heroes", a protester said.

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