At the climax of the #EndSARS protest, came the #LekkiMassacre which the political class has denied happened time and again, despite glaring video evidence that proves otherwise. Not only has the Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, denied the murder of several young Nigerians by security operatives at the Lekki Toll-Gate, but the entire political class seems to be pushing the same narrative including former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bola Tinubu, Sunday, took to his Twitter handle to weigh in on the issue in what he termed “THE #ENDSARS PROTESTS; A FUNDAMENTAL LESSON IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.”
In a series of tweets, he bared his mind on the issues around the protest in a long statement, exonerating himself from the alleged accusation levelled against him that he had a hand in the deployment of the soldiers who opened fire on peaceful protesters on 20, October 2020.
His tweet reads:
2. My deepest sympathies go to their families and loved ones for none should have been made to pay such a dear price. My career as an active politician spans nearly three decades.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
4. Here, let me directly address the sharp point aimed against me. I have been falsely accused of ordering the reported deployment of soldiers against peaceful protesters that took place at Lekki on 20 October 2020.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
5. This allegation is a complete and terrible lie. I did not order this or any assault against anybody. I would never want such a vile thing to happen nor did I have any prior knowledge about this sad event.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
6. It is my firm belief that no one should be harassed, injured or possibly killed for doing what they have the constitutional right to do in making their contribution to a better, more equitable society.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
Some Nigerians believe he gave a beautiful speech trying to excuse himself from the horrific incident that claimed the lives of many. However, he didn’t do justice to the big question none of our political leaders has taken responsibility for – “Who ordered the killings of the peaceful protesters?”
Nigerians are all too aware that the military does not act on their own – they receive orders from above to take action. And the horrifying sight of them opening fire on the protesters that fateful night, they believe, must have been ordered by someone in the position of power.
Another point Tinubu’s statement failed to address was acknowledging the fact that young Nigerians were murdered at the Lekki Toll-Gate. Even though he commiserated with victims of police brutality in the statement, he failed to call a spade a spade. He referred to the #LekkiMassacre as the “Lekki attack/assault,” which does not paint the true picture of murder.
17. The slander aimed at me is based on the untruth that I own the toll gate concession. The hate mongers prevaricate that I ordered the Lekki assault because the protests had caused me to lose money due to the interruption of toll gate activity.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
19. At bottom, the toll gate is a public asset. If it is reopened, revenues should be donated to the confirmed victims of the Lekki attack as well as to other identifiable victims of police brutality in Lagos.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 25, 2020
The political class may do all in their power to change the narrative of the dreadful incident that happened that fateful night, but one thing remains sure – facts never lie.
Leave a reply