Should there be a prize for the Courageous Man of the Year, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deserves to clinch the honour, says the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The former two-term Imo State Governor said Sanwo-Olu has displayed uncommon courage in attending to emergency situations occasioned by the twin crisis of Coronavirus pandemic and the recent nationwide youth protests against police brutality, of which Lagos was the epicentre.
The Senator said Sanwo-Olu demonstrated unique leadership traits when he gave an audience to the #EndSARS protesters and identified with their cause by marching with the youths at the risk of his safety.
This, Okorocha said, stood the Governor out as a listening leader.
The lawmaker, however, condemned the violence that trailed the protests, saying the mayhem in which several public assets were destroyed had robbed the future generations of valuable inheritance.
He said: “I am here to commend the Governor for the manner he has handled the entire scenario.
“He came out and engaged the youths where the protests were most intense.
“This is a rare show of leadership.
“I must commend Sanwo-Olu for that.
“Despite that the violence left untold devastation in Lagos, the Governor has been toeing the path of peace.
“The protest is a lesson for all of us; we must take the advantage of the outcome to rebuild and re-unite our country.
“I have no doubt that Lagos will come out of this stronger than it used to be, given Sanwo-Olu’s exemplary leadership in handling the issue.”
Okorocha cautioned against demonising the youths who led the protests, saying there was no reason to criminalise the protesters in spite the violence that trailed their demonstration.
