Sunday, October 25, 2020 /09:02 AM / by Lagos State
Government / Header Image Credit:
Shock! This was the
expression on the faces of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members from
Southwest and Governors as they toured the public assets and private properties
destroyed in Wednesday's coordinated arson in Lagos State.
The Governors and the
Ministers were in Lagos on Sunday to commiserate with Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu over the large-scale destruction of public and private facilities by
hoodlums who had hijacked the #EndSARS
protests by youths.
The delegation of Governors
and Ministers was personally received by Sanwo-Olu at the State House in
Marina, where the Lagos helmsman showed them the pictorial evidence of the
violence before visiting some the torched assets - the Lagos High Court, the
Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) building and the Forensic Lab.
Many sighed endlessly;
others were simply shaking their heads. Some brought their phones and took
photographs of the "scene of war".
At a joint press conference
held after the tour, chairman of Southwest Governors' Forum and Ondo State
Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, likened Lagos to a war zone, given
the extent of the destruction.
He said the violence that
resulted from the EndSARS protest left much to be desired, stressing that there
was an agenda beyond the youth demonstration against police brutality.
He said: "We are deeply
concerned with the ease with which public buildings, utilities, police stations
and investment of our people have been burnt despite the proximity of security
agencies in those areas. The development leaves us with no other option than to
believe that there may be other reasons for continued protests, well
coordinated and funded.
"We are particularly
worried that 48 hours after the unfortunate incident at the Lekki Toll Gate by
persons adorning military outfit, there has been no definitive statement from
the military authorities on the incident. Our anxiety becomes heightened by the
categorical denial of the Governor of Lagos State concerning the military
deployment. No Governor has powers to authorise deployment of military
personnel in Nigeria."
The Governors also
condemned "sacrilegious" attack on the palace of the Oba of Lagos and
decried what they called "vile attack" on All Progressives Congress (APC)
National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and businesses in which he has
interest.
Akeredolu said the
regression into savagery exposed Southwest's vulnerability to manipulation by
divisive elements bent on annihilating the region's economic prosperity and
destroying its common heritage.
The Governors applauded
Sanwo-Olu for his patience and the manner with which he handled the situation.
The Forum demanded an
investigation into the circumstances that led to the destruction of public
assets and private businesses in Lagos.
"We commend Gov. Sanwo-Olu
for his administrative acumen. We note his patience and understanding in the
face of unwarranted provocation by agents of darkness. We stand resolutely with
him at this trying period. We urged our youths to rise up and defend our land
against diabolical incursion ravaging our space. We cannot continue to fold our
hands and watch our heritage destroyed," Akeredolu said.
The Southwest Governors
unanimously disowned the war-mongering rhetoric of a man, Adeyinka Grandson, in
a video circulating in the social media. They urged the Yoruba and non-Yoruba
residents in the Southwest to disregard the threat of violence issued in the
video, saying the "secessionist" had no authority to speak for the Yoruba.
Akeredolu said: "The
element (Adeyinka Grandson) has no authority to speak on our behalf. We call on
our brothers who are non-Yoruba natives to go about their normal businesses
with out fear. Southwest region will continue to be made habitable for all."
Minister of Works and
Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said the visit was at the instance of
President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that words were not enough to describe the
extent of the destruction wreaked by the arsonists.
Fashola hailed Sanwo-Olu
for his "untiring effort" to restore peace in the State, cautioning those
posting inflammatory comments in the social media to desist from the act. He
urged all Lagos residents to unite and collectively address the cause of the
violence, stressing that the State Government needed the support of all in unraveling
the truth.
Other Governors in the
delegation included Oyo and Ekiti states, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and Dr. Kayode
Fayemi.
Other FEC members, who
visited Sanwo-Olu include Minister for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday
Dare, Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Industry,
Trade and Development, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Minister of State for Health, Sen.
Olorunimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura,
and Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite.
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who also visited Sanwo-Olu,
condemned the violence and destruction of properties in Lagos.
Gbajabiamila, who was
accompanied by members of the House of Representatives from Lagos State, urged
people not to read ethnic dimension to the issue, promising that the lower
chamber of the National Assembly would do all within its power in rebuilding
Lagos and other states affected by the violence.
He said: "This certainly is
not Lagos State of our dream that we all talk about. I believe that no matter
brave or face anyone put into it, even the protesters have their regrets that
things went this far. From my understanding and from what I have seen, those
who were for the protests and those who did not join were all affected. It is
very unfortunate to see the level of destruction."
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