A former governor of Lagos state, and one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again reiterated that he is not behind the on-going nation-wide #ENDSARS Protest.
The former governor who was reacting to allegations making round that he was one of the arrowheads of a group sponsoring #ENDSARS protesters said it was unthinkable for anyone to reason along such shallow paths.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Tunde Rahman, the former Lagos State governor accused some political opponents of being behind the rumour, and urged Nigerians to discountenance what he called fake news.
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The statement by Tunde Rahman reads: “There is a need to set the facts and record straight for fear that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons.
“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government. He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers.
“Secondly, whereas Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.
“He believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying. Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.
“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence. It is therefore the height of illogicality to ascribe the sponsorship of the protest to Asiwaju. The sponsors of this fake news forget that the protest is so widespread and cuts across the country.”
Read also: #EndSARS: Our Website Was Attacked, But We Repelled It, EFCC Admits
Recall that a certain Professor at the University of Ibadan, who goes by the name Adebisi had openly accused Tinubu of sponsoring the protests as a way of getting back at President Buhari over the latter’s alleged indisposition to some of Tinubu’s actions.
The said professor cited the protest in Lekki axis and the massive turnout in Lagos including the alleged decision of one MC Oluomu, a protege of Tinubu to distribute food items to protesters to justify his claims.
