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#EndSARS: Tinubu laments Lekki shooting, says incident “complicated things”
By Emmanuel Awosika
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the events surrounding the #EndSARS protests especially the shooting of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate have “complicated things” for him.
Tinubu revealed this in a statement released on Sunday, titled ‘The #EndSARS protests: A fundamental lesson in democratic governance’.
The APC chieftain lamented that his opponents had first accused him of bankrolling the #EndSARS protests before accusing him of directing soldiers to disperse peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate.
He said his political opponents falsely claimed he was responsible for the Lekki attack because he had financial interests in the Toll Gate and was losing money as the protests dragged on.
Tinubu faulted the claims, saying they were efforts of enemies set to pit him against the Federal Government and the public.
He said he had no financial interests in the Lekki Concession Company which controls the Tollgate.
Tinubu did to having investment in The Nation newspaper and Television Continental (TVC) which suffered attacks from hoodlums in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.
He said he received word of moves by his opponents to sponsor attacks on The Nation and TVC but had refrained from protecting both places with armed forces because he wanted to avoid loss of lives.
“There is no rationale that can adequately explain why I would order soldiers to repel peaceful protesters from the tollgate, where I have no financial interest, yet, choose to do nothing to protect my investments in The Nation and TVC,” he stated.
He added: “Along with all well-meaning, patriotic Nigerians, I want to see an end to all forms of institutionalised brutality and I shall do my utmost to see that this humane objective is realised.
“The present situation clearly does nothing to profit me politically or otherwise. It has complicated matters for me because many people now wrongfully blame me for a violent incident in which I played no part. Still, I stand strongly behind the people of Nigeria and affirm their right to protest peacefully.
