Headlines
Tinubu reappears, reasserts influence, authority in Lagos
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has reappeared to the limelight days after some #EndSARS protesters stormed his home on Bourdillon, Ikoyi, following the invasion of the Lekki toll gate venue of the protest by armed soldiers.
Responding to reports that he flew out of the country immediately after the army shot at the Lekki toll gate #EndSARS protesters, Tinubu said: “I didn’t go nowhere; I am a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos State and I am still the Jagaban. Whatever they think; fake news is all over the place. They said my son, Seyi was kidnapped. He is here (Tinubu pointed at his son). It is all a joke.”
Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was at the State House, Marina, the official residence of the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commiserate with the governor over the Lekki toll plaza tragic incident.
He sympathised with the governor and Lagosians over the hijack of the #EndSARS protests by hoodlums who destroyed both private and government properties. He also condoled with those who lost their loved ones in the violence.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday at the State House, Marina, Tinubu, who was accompanied by his son, Seyi said the “looting, carnage, burning and invasion of police stations and stealing of arms and maiming the innocents “is handshake beyond the elbow.”
He said: “We have to separate those who suffered brutality in the hands of some SARS officers before the protests from those who suffered casualties due to shootings at the Toll Gate. For those who suffered from SARS they should approach the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and present their case to the panel.
“The panel is independent and I trust the calibre and character of the people there.”
Making reference to Sanwo-Olu’s handling of the protest before the curfew, Tinubu said the governor did what he should have done under the circumstance. He added that Sanwo-Olu, whom he described as youth-friendly, listened to the protesters and took their demands to the President in Abuja.
“He (Sanwo-Olu) quickly went to Abuja with the five for five and the government immediately went into action.”
“We saw on television that he delivered the message to Mr. President. The President didn’t say no. The President gave him appointment within a few hours. That is responsive enough…but where are we getting the looting, the carnage, the burning and invasion of our police stations and stealing of arms and maiming the innocent. It is handshake beyond the elbow,” he said.
He urged Lagosians to embrace peace and set about healing the wounds inflicted by the violence.