The report of the Lagos State Panel of Enquiry instituted to investigate the October 20, 2020 shootings that took place at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos during the EndSARS protests, was on Monday, submitted to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The report indicted the Nigerian Army and the police for shootings that led to the killing and harming of unarmed peaceful protesters that are put at 48 persons.
Led by Justice Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, the panel recommended that all soldiers deployed in the Lekki tollgate on the said day should be made to face appropriate disciplinary action, be stripped of their ranks and dismissed saying they were not fit and proper to serve in any public or security service of the nation.
Expectedly, reactions have been tripping in from many quarters with many of them seeking for the implementation of the report amidst the clamour for compensation for the victims as recommended by the panel.
While responding, the United States government said it welcomed the conclusion of the inquiry even as it awaits the Lagos State Government’s response “as part of a process that represents an important mechanism of accountability regarding the #EndSARS protests and the events that took place near the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.”
“Those events led to serious allegations against some members of the security forces, and we look forward to the Lagos State and federal governments taking suitable measures to address those alleged abuses as well as the grievances of the victims and their families,” the US government noted.
On its part, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon, noted that the submission of the findings of the judicial panel would accelerate the process of justice and accountability.
“I welcome the submission to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of the reports of the judicial panel on claims of brutality and shooting in the Lekki area of Lagos State during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
“I urge the government to implement the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry to rebuild trust and start the process of healing and reconciliation.”
While the Lagos State government looks set to issue a white paper towards the ‘quick’ implementation of the report, the Defence Headquarters is unhappy about the channel through which it was released.
“But I’d like to indicate that the normal procedure is to have such a report submitted to the convening authority. Then, there will be a White Paper that will be presented, based on which one can make informed comments,” Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor had noted in his immediate reaction to the report and cautioned against disparaging the military over the report while insisting that troops conducted themselves professionally at Lekki Tollgate.
The question on the lips of those close to government is however to understand the rationale and motive behind the procedural breach as raised by the Chief of Defense Staff, much more, when the government at the centre did not interfere or indicate interest in the outcome of the report.
Surprisingly, unknown to many, the report has become a political weapon in the hands of the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his surrogate, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who have chosen to weaponize the document to settle political scores with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
This newspaper sniffed that the Jagaban, as Tinubu is fondly called is unhappy with the political direction that appears not too assuring for his much publicized 2023 presidential ambition considering his waning influence in the party and dwindling popularity, especially the fragmentation of the APC in the Southwest where he’s seen as an authority. Insiders also revealed that he is worried about abandonment among his lieutenants who considered that his health and age would prevent him from being an active and productive president.
Insiders said the APC National Leader, who suffered losses from attacks on his businesses, including that on the company belonging to his son during the 2021 protests, has not recovered from image crises and public perception, and is bent on embarking on damage control using the same subject of ENDSARS to change the narrative.
The plan now is to turn the table against the Federal Government while Tinubu and the Lagos State government are seen as truth seekers who did not only unearthed the truth surrounding the 20th October, 2020 shootings but willing to implement the recommendations of the panel ‘for the love of the people.’
Also, the former Lagos State governor is reportedly bellyaching over what his camp considered to be his entitlement to seamlessly succeed President Buhari in 2023, but are beginning to feel shortchanged that after all Tinubu did to install Buhari as president, the pendulum of power may not tend to his direction and they want the president and his government punished.
Although the Federal Government is yet to make an official statement on the unsettling report, political watchers are however of the opinion, that it has raised questions about the sincerity of the information offered by its officials which got government at loggerheads with the youths and the civil society organisations.
Already, calls are being made for the removal and apologies from top government officials believed to have misled the public and the international community over the Lekki Tollgate shootings.