South-West Governors and members of the Federal Executive Council from the zone on Sunday, unanimously disowned the war-mongering rhetoric in a video circulating in the social media urging the Igbo in Lagos to disregard the threat of violence issued in the video.
They said the “secessionist” had no authority to speak for the Yoruba. The governors and Ministers spoke at a joint press conference addressed after a tour of public and private properties destroyed by hoodlums who had hijacked the #EndSARS protest by youths.
Specifically, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said; “The element (Adeyinka Grandson) has no authority to speak on our behalf. We call on our brothers who are nonYoruba natives to go about their normal businesses without fear. South-West 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 government needed the support of all in unravelling the truth. Others in the delegation included Oyo and Ekiti states’ governors, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Other ministers, who visited Sanwo-Olu include Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, Minister of 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 the brave face anyone puts 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.” 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 of 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, the Chairman of the South-West 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.”