A pan-Lagos organization known as Lagos Observers Group (LOG) has urged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to apologise to Lagosians for allegedly not coming out clean to the general public about the #EndSARS protests that rocked Lagos state recently.
The LOG also asked the governor to similarly tender an apology to the Nigerian Army for allegedly misleading the public into thinking that it was the Army that unilaterally weighed into the Lekki protests without a request from him as the governor of Lagos state.
According to the group, this apology has become imperative in view of the misinformation that purportedly gave birth to the escalation of crisis in Lagos state during the #endsars protest following Sanwo-Olu’s initial denial that he never requested any intervention from the Army to help quell the protests.
However, the group noted that after ” analysing the Army’s testimony as well as other critical stakeholders perspectives before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution” it has become clear that there is need from an apology from the Lagos state governor to the Nigerian Army and to Lagosians.
In a statement issued by Folarin John Odusote and Dr Boboye Olarewaju, LOG chairman and secretary, respectively, on Monday, the body warned that the Army’s disclosure was a testimonial to the fact that the #EndSARS campaign was not a reflection of the reality on the ground.
The group further declared that given the revelations that Sanwo-Olu requested for assistance from the Army when it was apparent that the Police had been overwhelmed, it is only fair, just and natural that the governor should tender an apology for misleading the public.
Th group’s statement reads among other things:
“Introduction:
The Lagos Observers, a pan-Nigerian group with membership cutting across all ethnic nationalities, religious groups and professional bodies convoked an extraordinary general meeting to deliberate on the recent revelations made by the Nigerian Army at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution.
“The Lagos Observers Group in the attempt to put issues in proper perspectives given the enormity of the task at hand in unraveling the circumstances that led to the escalation of violence in the state during the EndSARS protest reviewed the testimony by the Nigerian Army and other critical stakeholders before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution.
“The Deliberations:
Members of the Lagos Observers Group deliberated on the facts presented by the Nigerian Army with regards to the following:
“The use of live bullets: Who invited the Nigerian Army?How many people died and what led to the death(s)? Was there a case of provocation? The Lagos Observers group indeed noted that the testimony by the Nigerian Army was backed by facts and evidence to support their position which is an indication that the bulk of the information on the EndSARS campaign was not a reflection of the reality on the ground.
“Our members took time to scrutinize the various testimonies by other concerned parties involved in the EndSARS protest to identify the number of casualties as a result of the intervention of the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Tollgate.
“Our findings: The members of the Lagos Observers group after extensive deliberations and fact checks indeed identified that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for reinforcement from the Nigerian Army when it was apparent that the Nigerian Police has been overwhelmed and things were about to get out of control.
“It was also discovered that the soldiers deployed to the Lekki Tollgate were pelted with stones and other items upon arrival in an already tensed atmosphere susceptible to the crisis of immeasurable proportion in the Lekki-Ikoyi axis…
“It was also discovered that soldiers at the Lekki Tollgate fired into the air to disperse the already riotous crowd and not into the crowd as erroneously stated in different quarters. This fact is buttressed by the fact that the only death recorded at the Lekki Tollgate was not as a result of gunshot injuries.
“It was also discovered that even in the face of provocation, the soldiers remained calm and within their mandate of dispersing the crowd with the use of minimal force. This much was seen in the various video recordings scrutinized.
“Conclusion: The Lagos Observers group at the end of its extraordinary general meeting hereby makes the following conclusion: That the allegations levelled against the Nigerian Army are indeed fictitious and meant to disparage the timely intervention of the Nigerian Army in the restoration of law and order in Lagos state…
“Recommendations:
The Lagos Observers Group, as a consequent of the recent revelations that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu indeed invited the Nigerian Army, hereby recommend the following:
“That the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu should tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian Army for misleading the general public with regards to the intervention of the Nigerian Army during the EndSARS protests.
“That the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu should in future take ownership of his actions as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Security Officer of the state…”
