20th January, 2012
. Lawyers Seek The Withdrawal of the soldiers
The intrigues surrounding the deployment of soldiers to Lagos state, South-west Nigeria, in the wake of the recent series of protests across the country over the removal of subsidy from petrol, has left residents of the state wondering who is lying between the State Government and the Federal Government.
There have been accusations and counter accusations now resulting in three angles to the entire saga.
Lagosians had woken up on Monday to discover battle-ready military men lining the streets of the state claiming that they were ordered to quell any further protests in the state, which is suspected to have become a threat to the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
That afternoon, the state Governor Babatunde Fashola had accused the Federal Government of attempting to provoke the people who had remained peaceful since the beginning of the protest.
In a state-wide broadcast, Governor Fashola said while he was busy assisting the Federal Government to resolve the crisis between labour and the government, the Presidency was busy planning to deploy soldiers to his state.
“It is not disputable that 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 have the 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 the majority of us who hold public offices danced and sang before these same people when we were seeking their votes.
“I therefore urge the reconsideration of the decision to deploy soldiers and implore the President and Commander-in-Chief to direct their withdrawal from our streets,” he said.
The Minister of Defence, Bello Haliru Mohammed, said a day after the deployment that the Federal Government would not withdraw the soldiers till it is sure there are no more threats to lives and properties in the state.
He also reminded Lagos that it was not the state alone that was witnessing the presence of soldiers, but that they were also deployed to possible dangerous areas of the country.
“The deployment of soldiers was meant to forestall anarchy so government stepped in to control the situation so that people with the wrong motives can be put in check. The soldiers will be withdrawn as soon as normalcy returns to the streets of Lagos and other parts of the country where soldiers are on such duties.
“Let me emphasise that under no circumstances will government stand aloof while some misguided elements unleash violence on the Nigerian society. The administration is committed to promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation,” he added
But the Army Headquarters has shifted the blame on the deployment of troops on the governor, saying the soldiers on the streets of the state are men of the state-sponsored Operation Messa, set up to combat crime in the state and that their deployment was at the instance of the state governor.
The Nigerian Army also disagreed with Bello Haliru Mohammed and Governor Fashola over whose authority the controversial deployment of soldiers to the state was done.
Spokesperson of the military, Colonel Mohammed Yerima, said yesterday that the soldiers were requested for by the state government and that they were drawn from the same Operation Messa made up of a mixture of soldiers and policemen.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the unsubstantiated claims by a section of the public alleging that the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops in Lagos to halt the protest against the fuel subsidy removal.
“While the Defence Headquarters does not wish to join issues with any individual or groups regarding the matter, we wish to state categorically, in the interest of the larger society, that there is no element of truth in those claims.
“The soldiers seen on the streets of Lagos are still the same men of the special task force code named Operation MESA set up and sponsored by the Lagos State government long before the fuel subsidy protests, for the purpose of supporting the civil police in protecting lives and property as is the case in many parts of the country.
“The men of the task force who are currently in Lagos have been there and were not brought from outside Lagos. They are members of the Lagos State Government sponsored Operation MESA and the demand for their withdrawal is therefore uncalled for,” Yerima said.
Few hours after Yerima stated this, the State Government has again denied involvement in the deployment of the soldiers to the state, saying the claim is not only false but misleading.
The State Government challenged the military authorities to show proof of the request of troop deployment to the state.
Instead of simply taking the honourable path by apologising to the people of Lagos for an unpopular act, they have resorted to offering spurious and bogus claims aimed at deceiving the people.
“That this claim is coming four days after the Governor’s address, which he followed with a letter to the Presidency, is an obvious afterthought. It is also inconsistent with the explanation offered by the Minister of Defence who said that they deployed the soldiers in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“This attempt to cover up has left the public with much confusion, as the Minister of Defence offered one reason and the Military authority has offered another,” the state government said denying that the soldiers are men of the Operation Messa.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch marched through the streets to Alausa, Ikeja, to deliver their letter of protest to the state governor for onward delivery to President Goodluck Jonathan.
—Eromosele Ebhomele & Henry Ojelu