Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has recounted how he unsuccessful tried to inform President Muhamadu Buhari when hoodlums unleashed unprecedented violence, burning and destruction of public and private properties and businesses on the state on Wednesday.
The governor said also revealed that he has yet to have access to President Buhari to discuss the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday evening.
Sanwo-Olu made these revelations while speaking on a live interview session on Arise TV on Thursday morning.
According to him, “I made calls to the President twice yesterday ( Wednesday) but I was firstly told he wasn’t in office and the second time, he was said to be at the FEC meeting; I haven’t spoken to him directly, but I have reached the Chief of Staff to the President.”
The governor also cleared the air on controversies surrounding the removal of cameras at the toll gate and why ad board light was turned off before the shooting at the Lekki toll gate occurred.
When asked why the cameras at the toll gate were removed, Sanwo-Olu answered, “The cameras removed were not security cameras, it is a laser camera for cars; it picks tags for cars and number plates; it is not a security camera; it is an infrared camera; security camera are still available and that is what we are using for our own investigation.
“They did the removal because of curfew; As regards the light LCC put off, the light because of the curfew order issued by Lagos State Government. I have never spoken to the owner of the company ( Tinubu’s son), I am very certain their decision was purely a corporate decision.”
Sanwo-Olu who looked stressed throughout the interview, also assured that footages from the CCTV cameras in Lekki would be made available for public viewership.
Clarifying further on his statement that forces beyond his control deployed soldiers who shot protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday evening, the Lagos governor said, “I will be very careful on what I’ll say. There are reports I have that shows that there is more to this EndSars protest than I can disclose.
“There are visuals, audios that we have seen that we need to investigate deeper to get dimension and ascertain what to make out of it; I can’t guess. Regarding my speech, I was trying to explain that the hierarchy of the military are not in my command; I am not pretending to act as if I have the power to activate or control the military…”
Sanwo-Olu also hinted during the live interview that secessionist groups could be behind the Wednesday carnage in Lagos.
Recall that IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, after the Lekki shooting on Tuesday issued a statement which partly read, “IPOB is calling on all the revolutionists to organise themselves together and bring down every property belonging to former Gov Ahmed Tinubu.
“He can’t aid and abate the killing of peaceful protesters in Lekki and expect to enjoy his stolen wealth in peace.”