A Bulgarian man is planning to get a sex change amongst other cosmetic modifications in order to look like Lady Gaga.
According to radaronline.com, 24 year old Penio Daskalov, a former contestant on the Bulgarian version of Big Brother, wants to enlist the services of a cosmetic surgeon to Lady Gagaify him in order to help boost his music career.
' really admire the way she has created herself, so when I've had my operations I won't be quite a man or quite a woman,' Daskalov told Radar Online. ''ve already contacted her management and told them what I am doing and how I'd like to record a duet with her.'
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have convened this Stakeholders’ Forum for only one purpose, which is the preservation of human lives and safety of property because this is the primary reason why we are in Government.
No matter the season or the occasion, we govern with our integrity and will tell our people the truth and deal with them truthfully whatever it takes.
The truth is that transportation is a critical component of modern civilization and efficient mass transportation is a measure of the standard of living in any economy.
It is also true that as the population of Lagos continues to grow, the demand for efficient mass transportation provides a challenges for us in Government as it provides a market for the services of commercial motorcyclists popularly referred to as Okada.
It is also true that Okada is not our ideal form of transportation and this is what has led us to the development of the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) as one reliable alternative that has become very successful, even as we pursue the implementation of Light Rail and ferry services, which are at various stages of implementation and development.
Whilst these models of acceptable public mass transportation are increasing, we have tolerated the operation of Okada within our territory as a demonstration of our sensitivity to the needs of people who demand the service and the survival needs of those who provide the services as a form of livelihood.
Whereas other States have outrightly banned Okada, we do not believe that a ban is the solution.
As a Government of methods and believers in critical planning as to tool for solving problems, we recognize that alternatives and choices of public transportation are the answers and not bans.
We have provided these alternatives through the BRT that now ply our major highways and in the daily increasing number of taxis that we have supported to operate. The BRT routes are daily expanding as the buses are increasing.
Having provided these alternatives, we stand on very high moral and legal grounds to restrict but not to ban Okada from operating on major highways that the existing body of laws precludes them from operating upon.
But beyond the issue of choices and alternatives is the more important issue of safety. Many children have been orphaned; many women have become widows and many men widowers as a result of road traffic accidents arising from the use of Okada.
The number of hitherto able bodied persons who now have special needs because they have become physically challenged as a result of the loss of a limb, an eye or some other body part from Okada accidents is daily increasing.
The economic and social cost on our society is daily increasing and we have reached the point where we must insist that the operation of Okada in our State must be in accordance with the laws of our State.
The security implication especially as it relates to the involvement and use of Okada to commit crime cannot be over emphasized.
We have spent the last few months educating the operators and members of the public about their rights and duties under the law.
Today, we stand to re-affirm our resolve to discharge our primary responsibility to protect lives and property and secure this State compels us to act. I am delighted to say that the Association of Okada Riders through their recognized Unions (MOALS, ANACOWA) and the NURTW and RTEAN are our partners in this regard.
Accordinly, with effect from today:
• No person shall operate a motorcycle (Okada) for Lagos State without a valid riders license;
• No person shall operate a motorcycle (Okada) without proper registration;
• No motorcycle (Okada) operator should operate beyond 8:00pm in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja and 10:00pm in other areas of the State;
• All Motorcycle must be road worthy and must have the two side mirrors fixed on them;
• No person shall operate a motorcycle without wearing a standard crash helmet with full head protection;
• In case of a passenger on a motorcycle (Okada), the owner or rider of such a motorcycle shall provide a standard crash helmet for the use of the passenger;
• No motorcycle (Okada) operator shall carry more than one passenger at a time;
• No motorcycle (Okada) operator should carry any load at any time;
• No underage person (under 18 years old) under any circumstance should ride a motorcycle (Okada) or be carried on a motorcycle (Okada);
• No stereo or any other musical instrument should be fixed on the motorcycle (Okada);
• No other horn except that of motorcycle (Okada) should be fixed on it;
• That Okada operator must not carry:
o Pregnant women
o School aged children
o Women with children on their back
• Motorcycle (Okada) operators must respect and obey all traffic laws and regulations which include:-
o No riding against traffic or direction prohibited by Law
o No riding on the kerb, median or road set backs
o Obey all traffic light signals including red light
o Obey all Traffic sign, especially where it concerns Motorcycle (Okada) operations
In addition, motorcycle (Okada) operators are prohibited from operating on the following routes:
• Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi- The entire Lagos CBD area, Ozumba Mbadiwe (from Bonny Camp – 1st Roundabout) Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Bourdillion Rd, Gerrard Ave , Alexander Rd, Osborne rd and Alfred Rewane Rd and CMS (Outer Marina);
• Mainland- The entire stretch of Funsho William Avenue- Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Muritala Muhammed Way from Jibowuto Yaba, Oyingbo, Iddo, Idumota;
• Ikorodu Express Road- From Jibowu to Ikorodu Town Roundabout;
• Third Mainland Bridge- From Toll gate through the entire stretch of Third Mainland Bridge;
• Badagry Express Road- The entire stretch of Badagry Express Road;
• Apapa Oshodi Expressway- The entire stretch Apapa Oshodi Expressway (excluding the service lanes);
• Ikeja – The Entire Network of Roads around Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Awolowo Road, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road – Maryland Junction;
• Lagos Abeokuta Expressway/Agege Motor Road- The stretch from Moshalashi – Oshodi – Abule Egba – Boundary of Ogun and Lagos State; and
• Bridges- All Lagos Bridges
We will continue to give the fullest publicity to these regulations and I use this opportunity to appeal to all print and electronic media houses to donate spaces to carry these messages as a social service to the community in the interest of the general public.
The Police, LASTMA, FRSC, Task Force, KAI and other relevant agencies are empowered to enforce the law, and ensure compliance with the restrictions.
I want to thank the union through its leadership for the understanding and solidarity expressed so far on this initiative. We also want to thank the public who have consistently expressed support and encouragement to this initiative.
I wish to assure you that just as we have worked with you to change things that we do not accept, this is another part of our history that we need to put behind us.
Eko o ni baje o!!!
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State
August 24, 2010
