A soldier mans a road to
disperse people
protesting against the
removal of fuel subsidy
in Lagos on Monday.
Photo: Reuters
Lagos State governor, Mr
Babadunde Fashola has
faulted the deployment
of soldiers to the streets
of Lagos on Monday by
the federal government
and called for their
immediate withdrawal.
In a broadcast to the
people of the state on
Monday, Fashola said
there was no justification
for the deployment of
soldiers over the
protests against the
removal of fuel subsidy
in the state.
According to him " the
citizens who have
gathered in several
parts of Lagos like
Falomo, Ikorodu and
Ojota to mention a few
have largely conducted
themselves peacefully,
singing and dancing while
they expressed their
displeasure at the way
that we have taken
decisions that affect
them"
"That in my view should
not offend those of us in
Government. The majority
of these people who
represent diverse
interests have not
broken any law. If they
have, it is my opinion
that in a constitutional
democracy, it is the police
that hasthe responsibility
for restoring law and
order if civil protests
threaten the breach of
the peace.
"This is not justification
for sending out soldiers
to a gathering of
unarmed citizens. Every
one of us, or at least
majority of us who hold
public offices danced and
sang before these same
people when we were
seeking their votes.
"Why should we feel
irritated when they sing
and dance in protest
against what we have
done?
He noted that the
protests is not a matter
requiring the intervention
of the military and called
for their withdrawal by
President Goodluck
Jonathan.
No comments