‘Cheap, disgusting and unintelligent’ – How Presidency described Fashola’s statement on Lekki robbery

by Kolapo Olapoju
The Presidency has responded to the accusation by Governor of Lagos state, Governor Fashola, who blamed President Jonathan’s visit for success of the robbery ry incident that occurred on Thursday in Lekki‎, Lagos.

YNaija had exclusively reported that Fashola stated that all the policemen, who should have been responsible for security in the state, were deployed to provide security for the President during the incident.

Reacting on behalf of the Presidency on Friday, March 13, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati said the  governor’s statement was ‘grossly and utterly irresponsible’, adding that someone of his status should be more intelligent in his utterances.

Abati said: “The visit of the President to Lagos or any part of the country does not necessitate the depletion of the police force active in that particular state or environment. The President has a defined team that protects him anywhere he goes.”

“And again, President Jonathan does not need the entire police force in Lagos State to protect him in a state where he is loved by the people and where as we have seen, he enjoys overwhelming support in the lead up to the 2015 presidential elections.”

“We do not only consider Governor Babatunde Fashola’s statement as irresponsible, we also think that it is unintelligent because it flies in the face of facts and it just does not add up.”

“We hope that Governor Fashola, in an attempt to play politics, will not continue as his party does to play politics with the lives of people. People died in that unfortunate incident and President Jonathan commiserate with the affected families.”

“But we will find it really cheap and disgusting that the governor of a state will now see that, an occasion of bereavement affecting the number of families, as an opportunity to play very cheap and irresponsible politics.”