Former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has insisted on thorough investigation into the Lekki tollgate shootings and who ordered the deployment of the soldiers.
Tinubu, who broke his silence since the incident happened on Tuesday night, spoke to journalists during a visit to State House Marina, to show solidarity with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the shooting, killing, and burning of properties in Lagos by hoodlums who hijacked the initial peaceful #EndSARS protest.
He described the looting and arson witnessed in the state as “an handshake the beyond elbow” just as he dispelled his rumoured escape to France and the kidnapping of his son, Seyi Tinubu, who accompanied during the visit.
“I still remains Asiwaju of Lagos and Jagaban,” Tinubu declared adding that
Seyi was neither kidnapped nor forced to pay ransom to secure his freedom.
He said the purpose of his meeting with Sanwo-Olu was to ask him if he had ordered soldiers to attack #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday.
The former Lagos governor said he asked Sanwo-Olu “if he didn’t order the attack, who ordered the attack? That’s all I needed from him.”
Tinubu has been under fire over the Lekki incident, culminating in the burning down of some investments believed to be owned by him, including a Television Continental (TVC), The Nation Newspaper, Orientals Hotel as well as assets of the Lekki Concession Company, the managers of the toll gate. Tinubu stressed the need for a thorough investigation into Tuesday’s night attack.
He said: “First, we have to segregate the calendar, those who suffered casualty before the protests from the hands of SARS. You have to separate that from those who suffered casualty due to what happened at the toll gate.
“For those who suffered casualty from SARS, I think the Commission of Inquiry that is already set up will unearth that and will make their recommendations. I trust the calibre and the character of the people there. They are independent. That is one.
“Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too. Even though we want to help, we still must extract information that will help the government to prepare in future and understand how and when to react because the governor, in particular, is a youth.”
“As a youth himself, he (Sanwo-Olu) quickly went to Abuja with the 5/5. The government immediately put into action, dissolved the SARS and had to work through other recommended actions on their demands. Within a few days, he reported back to the public. That is responsive enough.
“But where are we getting the looting, the carnage, the burning, the invasion of police stations, stealing of arms, maiming of the innocent? It is a handshake beyond the elbow.”
On where he has been during the crisis, he said, “I didn’t go nowhere. I’m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban.
“Fake news is all over the place. They said Seyi, my son, was kidnapped and was chased. But look at him, I didn’t pay a penny to bring him here.”
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