Vancouver Police Board vice-chair resigns following social media comments
The Vancouver Police Board has announced that its vice-chair, Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba, has resigned from her position following controversial statements she made on social media that were deemed inconsistent with the board’s code of conduct. Screenshots of Sakoma-Fadugba’s Instagram posts surfaced on Reddit, sparking criticism for their commentary on immigration and religion.
In one of the posts, Sakoma-Fadugba discussed how “mass immigration” and “a growing aversion to assimilation” are changing the identity of Canada. Another post questioned the celebration of Diwali in schools, suggesting that it was erasing Christian values from children’s lives. A third post criticized “woke culture” and gender transitions, while another post suggested that Christian values serve as Canada’s moral compass.
Sakoma-Fadugba issued an apology for the content of her posts, stating that they were taken out of context and do not accurately represent her views. She explained that she resigned from the board for personal reasons and expressed regret for any harm caused by her statements.
The Vancouver Police Board Chair, Frank Chong, released a statement condemning Sakoma-Fadugba’s remarks, stating that they do not align with the values of the board and are inconsistent with its code of conduct. The board’s governance manual emphasizes the importance of creating an inclusive and diverse environment free of discrimination.
Garry Begg, B.C.’s solicitor general and minister of public safety, denounced Sakoma-Fadugba’s comments as spreading hate and division among communities. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also expressed disapproval of the views shared by Sakoma-Fadugba, emphasizing the need for public leaders to unite communities rather than divide them.
Elenore Sturko, a B.C. Conservative MLA and former RCMP officer, supported the board’s decision to accept Sakoma-Fadugba’s resignation, stating that her comments were offensive, particularly to the transgender community. Sturko emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in the police service and ensuring that statements made by public officials do not erode that trust.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Sakoma-Fadugba’s social media posts highlights the importance of upholding values of diversity and inclusion in public service roles. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility that public leaders have to promote unity and respect among communities.
