Reactions as Army withdraws soldiers from Lagos streets
By Clifford Ndujihe, Evelyn Usman & Dapo Akinrefon
It pays to fight wrong—Braithwaite
Yesterday, Dr. Braithwaite said the withdrawal of the soldiers after the eminent citizens' protests and complaints from other Nigerians showed that it paid to resist wrong.
The Army authorities Tuesday ordered the withdrawal of soldiers deployed last week in Lagos to checkmate activities oil subsidy protesters.
He said: "We went out to fight for the people and it has produced effect. We demonstrated in the face of odds. People should begin to realise that we must begin to resist wrong. If you resist wrong, wrong will give way."
protest, during the 1,700 Days in office of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos state Governor, held at LTV Blue roof, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez""]]
Afenifere chieftain, Chief Supo Shonibare, and stalwart of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, Mr Bisi Adegbuyi, also faulted the deployment of the soldiers in the first place, especially the tear-gassing of the elder statemen.
Adegbuyi said: "It is a throw back to our ugly dictatorial past, a sad reminder that we are light years away from true democracy. It is also a sad reminder that the immense benefits accruable from a truly democratic government will continue to elude us.
Worse still, even elder statesmen who deserve our utmost respect are being crudely treated by a crude government. Very serious danger lies ahead."
On his part, Shonibare said using the police and soldiers to prevent peaceful demonstration against ruling government portended grave consequences that might spell doom to the country's democracy adding that "any system that is unable to accept this is not yet a democratic system of governance. Right to free speech is not negotiable."
We are not impressed – SNG
On his part, Mr Yinka Odumakin said the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, was not impressed because there was no need to have deployed the soldiers in the first place.
He said: "It is a shame on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. We were expecting the soldiers to remain in Lagos till 2015. In the first place, there was no need to have brought in armed soldiers to Lagos State because Lagos has been a peaceful state.
We are in a democracy and what they have done by deploying soldiers, in the first place, was against the constitution. Were they expecting Lagosians to have applauded the Federal Government for withdrawing the troops? It is rather unfortunate and we are not impressed at all."
The presence of the soldiers on the streets led a host of senior citizens such as Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Dr Tunji Braithwaite and Dr Kalu Idika Kalu among others, to embark on open demonstration during which they were tear-gassed by the police.
Other prominent Nigerians who also kicked against the deployment was Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who described it as a gross violation of the right of citizens to congregate and give expression to whatever grievances they have.
The Army authorities had earlier debunked claims that they deployed the soldiers, explaining that they were men of the OP Mesa, which the Lagos State government supports financially.
Vanguard's tour
Vanguard's tour of areas like Falomo, Ikorodu and Ojota, yesterday, showed that the armed troops and armoured tanks were no longer positioned there. Contacted, the Assistant Director of Army headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, confirmed the withdrawal of the troops, saying the directive was from the Chief of Army Staff , based on the decision of the Army headquarters.
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