•To meet with governors over building collapse
TO check incessant building collapse, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday said he would soon call a meeting of all the 36 state governors in order to take policy decisions on raising high rise buildings in the country.
The policy decisions, he said, will prevent use of defective structures in buildings, strengthening regulations concerning high rise buildings, among others.
He spoke in Lagos at the scene of the collapsed six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), situated in Ikotun, where about 84 persons were said to have died and many others sustained various degrees of injury.
Describing the situation as “very sad story and very sad incident”, he expressed condolences to the Church members, the Head of the Church, Prophet T. B. Joshua and those who lost their dear ones in the incident.
He also condoled with the South African people and the President, Jacob Zuma, whom he said he had already spoken with to extend the nation’s condolences.
He said: “Today when I arrive Lagos, my first port of call was where a six storey building collapsed and 80 people confirmed dead, about 131 people were injured.
“It is a very sad story, very sad incident to us and the international community because most of the people that died in that building collapse were not Nigerians, in fact a majority of them are South Africans.
“I spoke to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma to first express our own sentiments and condolences to the President and people of that country.”
On the collapse of the church, Prophet T B Joshua, alleged that the collapse of the building was caused by an attack on the Church and that it wasý beyond the allegation of structural defects.
He had alleged that a plane circulated four times before the build suddenly collapsed at exactly 12.44 pm.
The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, was reported to have said that there could be more than 84 South Africans who died in the incident.
President Jonathan yesterday also assured the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, ýthat the Federal Government would not relent in its infrastructural development programmes, maintenance of peace and security in the country.ý
Jonathan, who defied the heavy down pour in Lagos, spoke at the Palace of the Oba of Lagos while on a courtesy visit to Oba Akiolu 1, before attending the scheduled South-West zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Tafawa Belewa Square, yesterday.
He expressed gratitude to the Oba and His Council of Chiefs for the warm reception always accorded him each time he was in the palace, noting that royal fathers are custodians of land and the nation, and that he would not be in Lagos without coming to pay homage to the Oba to receive royal blessings and prayers.
According to him, Lagos State is key to the economy of Nigeria and assured that the Federal government was committed to ensuring that nothing negative happens to the state.
He recalled that this informed the reason why the Government rose to the challenge against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state in partnership with the Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
He thanked the Oba of Lagos on how he has been rendering service to the State and nation as Oba and while he was in service as a police officer.
He said: “I thank you for the warm reception you always give to me each time I had been here, I can’t even remember how many times.
“We thank you for the service you have been rendering right from when you were in service as a police officer, and now as the Oba of Lagos.
“We must make sure that we don’t have anything that will affect the economy of Lagos. We assure you that we will continue to do our best in infrastructure development of the country and maintenance of peace and security in the country,” he said
He told the Oba that he was in the state for the PDP South-West unity rally meant to bring together the members of the partyý together, adding that he will still come for campaign in future.
He said: “We are here for unity rally, we are not here for campaign but we will still come. We are here to bring the members of the party in the South-West together.
“First, before we go, we came to tell you that we are in your domain and kingdom. We need your royal prayers and blessings because you (traditional rulers) are the owners of the land.”
Responding, Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu who noted that leadership is given to anybody by the Almighty God, prayed that God will be with President Jonathan and protect him to realise his vision for the country.
He urged for free and credible election in Lagos and Nigeria during the 2015 general stressing that God knows what is best for the country.
The Oba who expressed his special love for President Jonathan said, “I have special love for Mr. President. Leadership is bestowed on any person by the Almighty God. God put you in that positioný.”
“God will be with you, God will not abandon you,” he said
Despite the current security challenges, he said: “God will bring it to an end” as he advised that there should be special policies for handling security issues.
He assured the president that God would assist him as he appealed to him to ýcontinue doing whatever he needs to do for Lagos state, not minding politics.
