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. In that time, I have seen many things as Nigeria has struggled, sometimes against itself, to undertake the often painful yet inexorable push toward democratic government accountable to, and protective of, the people.
Though
this journey, I have traversed the landscape of human experience. Having been
as a political prisoner during our struggle for democracy but also having the
singular honour of serving this state and its people as governor, I have known
highs and lows, seen both the good and the bad of things.
But
the events of the past few days have been extraordinary in a most dire sense.
Only time will tell if we have the collective wisdom and requisite compassion
to learn the proper lessons from these events that we may yet steer toward a
better, more just Nigeria. Despite the tumult we now see, I believe with all my
heart that we will meet the current challenge.
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. 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. 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.
As
a political figure, I am accustomed to people attributing to me all manner of
indiscretions of which I have no knowledge and in which I played no role. I
have usually ignored such falsities as the cost of being in the public eye.
This
time, it is different. The allegation now levied against me is that I called on
soldiers to kill my own people. This allegation is the foulest of lies.
The
use of strong force against any peaceful protesters is indefensible, completely
outside the norms of a democratic society and progressive political culture to
which I aspire and have devoted my public life. That people were angered by the
reports of violence and death is acutely understandable.
Understandably
outraged, people sought to hold someone accountable. For various reasons, I
became the most available scapegoat. Some people don’t like me because they
believe the false rumours uttered about me over the years. Some maligned my
name because they hide ulterior motives and harbour unrequited political scores
they intend to settle.
A
week ago, such people tried to bring enmity between me and the state and
federal governments by contending I was sponsoring the protests. When that did
not work, they then sought to sow enmity between me and the people by saying I
ordered soldiers to quash the very same protests they first accused me of
organising.
My
opponents have every right to oppose me politically but let them have the
courage to do so in the open, above board and to employ facts not evil fiction
in their efforts against me. They have no right to slander and defame anyone
with the terrible and vile fabrications now cast at my feet.
Those
who have decided to hate me will hate me regardless of the truth. Again, they
have the right to think as they may and I am not troubled by their unfounded
animus. Today, I speak not to them. I leave them to the workings of their own
conscience.
Today,
I speak to those who believe in the importance of, and want to know, the truth.
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.
Minus
this alleged ownership, the slander employed against me falls to the ground as
a heavy untruth. I ask people to thoroughly investigate the matter of my
alleged ownership of the toll gate. By seeking facts, instead of being swayed
by gossip, you will find I have no ownership interest or involvement in the
toll gate. Having no business interests in the operation, my income remains
unchanged whether one or 100,000 vehicles pass through that gate.
At
bottom, the toll gate is a public asset. Given what has happened, I would like
to propose to government that the toll gate be left closed for an indefinite
period. 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. Let government use the money to
compensate and take care of those who have lost life or limb in the struggle
for all citizens to go about the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of life without fear
of undue harassment at this or that checkpoint.
On the other hand, I am, indeed, a promoter and financial investor in the Nation newspaper and TVC. It was widely known and circulated through social media that certain malevolent elements were going to take advantage of the situation to attack the Nation newspaper facilities and TVC in Lagos.
The
attackers came. Both facilities were significantly damaged. Although equipped
with prior notice of the imminent trespass, I did not call any one to seek or
request for the army or police to deploy let alone attack, kill, or injure
those who razed and vandalized these properties. I did not want any bloodshed.
These elements, mostly hirelings of my political opponents, wreaked their havoc
and destroyed those buildings and facilities and I thank God that the employees
of these two media institutions managed to escape largely unharmed.
There
is a deeper truth involved here. Burned buildings and damaged equipment can be
rebuilt or replaced. There is no adequate substitute for the loss of even a
single human life. I am not one to encourage violence. I abhor it. Thus I did
nothing that might endanger lives, even the lives of those who destroyed my
properties.
Now,
those who claim I ordered violence in Lekki must face the sheer illogic of
their assertions. There is no rationale that can adequately explain why I would
order soldiers to repel peaceful protesters from the toll gate where I have no
financial interest, yet, choose to do nothing to protect my investments in the
Nation and TVC.
Why
would I be so moved as to instigate the army to attack peaceful, law-abiding
people at the toll gate where I have no pecuniary stake, yet lift not a single
finger to stop hired miscreants bent on setting fire to these important media
investments?
The
allegations against me make no sense because they are untrue. They are parented
by those seeking to stoke and manipulate the people’s anger in order to advance
political objectives that have nothing to do with the subject matter of the
protests.
The
good and creative people of Lagos have worked hard over the years to build it
into the dynamic economic and cultural focal point it has become. Lagos has
enjoyed over two decades of sustained, uninterrupted growth. No other place in
Nigeria can stake that claim. Some people are unhappy with this. They seek to
tear down what we have worked hard to build that they may reshape Lagos to fit
their own more destructive image. Such people have taken advantage of the
current situation and of the public’s passions to set in motion a plan the
people would never support if they only knew what the destructive schemers
actually had in mind.
Not
only lives have been lost in Lagos and throughout Nigeria, but livelihoods have
also been impaired. I have seen the destruction to businesses, shops and homes.
I
empathise with those who have lost their businesses and residences through no
fault of their own but because hurtful, destructive misanthropes took it upon
themselves to use this moment to disguise their efforts to destroy and upend
the prosperity and hope so many of us took so many years to build. This is not
what the genuine protesters wanted and no one should blame them for this
destruction. In this tense situation, we must be careful not to rush to
conclusions and to make sure we ascertain the true facts that we not be
deceived toward rash action that may prove to be against our own interests.
This
is particularly true regarding the Lekki incident. Various players will
promulgate different casualty numbers. At this moment, no conclusive figure has
been ascertained. Although an investigation has been launched by the governor,
a totally accurate picture of the events may never be known. I for one refuse
to engage in futile speculation regarding the possible number of casualties for
such talk misses the vital point that we all must recognize.
We
strive for a more compassionate, progressive society. Thus, we must do more
than measure injustice by the number of dead or wounded. Injustice is injustice
regardless of the number of victims from whom blood is drawn.
Based
on the facts that come out of a thorough investigation, government may need to
amend the terms of engagement for deployment of military forces in instances of
mostly peaceful civil disobedience and protests. Although one of our nation’s
most respected institutions, the military is not adequately equipped and
trained to deal with such situations. It is placing a burden on the military
they are ill-suited to carry.
Moreover,
the time has come to take the necessary legal actions to allow for the creation
of state police and the recruitment and training of many more police officers.
Such state-created forces should be based on the modern tenets of community
policing and optimal relations and cooperation with local communities.
Measures
such as these are needed to cure present gaps in how military and law
enforcement treat the general public. These proposals are important and they do
not hamstring proper law enforcement and security operations. We know there are
criminal elements in society primed to harm people and seize property. We
expect this of criminals. What is not expected is that people will be
brutalized and scarred by those commissioned to protect and serve them. This
anomaly must end.
Given
all that has happened, I must stress the great theme that underlies this entire
situation so that it is not obscured and its proper societal impact lost. The
right to protest is more than integral to the democratic setting; It transcends
any form of government. The following thought may seem incongruous – but the
right to protest exists only where orderly society exists.
Because
of my strong belief in the right to protest and my adherence to democratic
ideals, I was among those who actively protested the annulment of the June 12
election. I eagerly joined and sometimes led multitudes who took to the streets
to protest the singular injustice of that historic moment. We demanded the
establishment of a new democracy in Nigeria. Those protests are a part of the
reason we have democracy in Nigeria today. They laid the foundation for the
youth today to protest and to call to the fore their grievances whenever our
social or political institutions fail them in a material way.
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