Deployment of soldiers to Lagos: Fashola writes Jonathan

on JANUARY 21, 2012 · in NEWS

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, GBENGA AKANMU, ISHOLA BALOGUN & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

As the soldiers deployed to Lagos by President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the protest against petrol subsidy removal remain in the state, Governor Babatunde Fashola has written a letter to the President demanding the withdrawal of soldiers from the metropolis, Saturday Vanguard can reveal.

The letter dated Jan. 17 contradicts claims by the Defence Headquarters that it was the governor who requested and funded the deployment of the soldiers in the state.


Fashola's letter to President Goodluck Jonathan requesting withdrawal of Troops from Lagos streets.
Fashola’s letter to the President reads in part: I am compelled to write to Your Excellency regarding the deployment of soldiers to the streets of Lagos because in spite of my public address about 24 hours ago in which I implored Your Excellency to direct the withdrawal of the soldiers, their presence is still evident in some parts of Lagos that I drove through today.

For emphasis, I restate my commitment to good governance, law and order but I equally restate that our citizens who protest should not be confronted with our military. The universally acknowledged purpose of the military is the protection of the state that they serve against external aggression by persons considered to be enemies to that state.

Meanwhile, the State government has faulted the use of tear gas canisters by men of the Nigerian Police Force to disperse protesters who had on Thursday, staged peaceful demonstration against the deployment of troops to the state.

It will be recalled that prominent Nigerians led by Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Alhaji Shettimah Yerimah, Toyosi Akerele, Festus Keyamo, Mr. Wale Okunniyi amongst others during a peaceful protest on Thursday were dispersed when police fired tear gas canisters into the air while on their way to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park at Ojota, Lagos to register their displeasure against the Federal Government’s deployment of soldiers to the state.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, yesterday while reacting to the development told newsmen in Alausa, Ikeja, that the action was unnecessary and unprofessional.

Ibirogba said for the fact that the protest was peaceful, and constituted no menace to public order and security, there was no basis for the police to resort to the use of “maximum force” by firing tear gas canisters on protesters.

The commissioner added that the police should have considered that the calibre of people involved in the protest could not have been out to foment trouble but only to express their views against the deployment of troops.

Speaking on claims by the Military authorities that the Federal Government deployed soldiers to the state at the request of the state government, Ibirogba described the claim as unfounded. He challenged the Military authorities to show proof of the request for the deployment of troop to the state, maintaining that “OP-MESA,” a special military squad which assisted the police in controlling crime in the state was different from soldiers deployed by the Federal Government.

In the same vein, the State House of Assembly has condemned the tear-gassing of protesters which included notable statesmen on a peaceful protest against the deployment of soldiers on Lagos streets by President Goodluck Jonathan while calling on the federal government to apologize to Nigerians. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy & Publicity, Hon. Segun Olulade.