By Tunde Rufai
The People Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State on Friday said it was shocked the President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Broadcast on #EndSARS protests and attendant violence did not mention alleged shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate Plaza on Oct. 20.
The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taofik Gani, disclosed this while reacting to the Presidential broadcast on Thursday over the violence and destruction of lives and property that trailed the #EndSARS protests in some states.
Gani said that since it was Lekki’s alleged attack on protesters by soldiers that instigated the violence and arsons that spread across, the President ought to mention the incident and give hope to the aggrieved youths.
According to him, the President should have hunt after the military personnel involved in the alleged shooting of protesters and announced compensation for the victims to assured the aggrieved youths and families of the victims.
Gani said: “It (broadcast) is not something that anybody will be proud of especially we in Lagos being the worst hit after state agents attacked the peaceful protesters.
” That is why we are shocked that the President did not specifically mention that incident at Lekki Toll Gate and the incident stands out in all; it is even the only incident the international community recognised because military attacked peaceful demonstrations.
“The President must announce unequivocally the Lekki incident. The attacks by state agents are unnecessary and unprovoked. The Lekki shooting and killing should have been something of interest to the President.
“The President can still correct this if the omission is inadvertent. He should mention it and add issues of compensations for the victims. The President should mention the military who were part of that Lekki attack on protesters to douse the anger.”
According to him, the Lekki incident should have been put at front burner of the speech to give hope that justice would be done to the perpectrators.
The PDP spokesman added that the President must again, for the purpose of addressing the military involvement in peaceful protest, make another broadcast.
“He must at least direct the Chief of Defence Staff now to go after those military personnel who went to Lekki to shoot protesters and the President must announce compensations for those maimed, dead or injured.
“Though there is no level of compensation that will console those affected families, the President must be seen to be giving hope in governance,” he said.
