Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu has debunked the insinuation that the CCTV camera was removed at the Lekki Tollgate before the army came to shoot at protesters on October 20.
He made the claim during a live online interview with Arise Television monitored by Church Times on October 22.
According to him, “what people referred to as CCTV camera were the cameras for vehicles plying the road which had to be removed by the company in charge because of the curfew that had been imposed on Lagos State.”
He said the companies in charge also switched off the light because of the curfew.
Sanwoolu who spoke in a sober tone said the CCTV cameras for the toll gate were placed at the top of the toll gate and kept away from the eye of the public adding that nobody can tamper with it. He said the cameras would be made available to a judicial panel of inquiry which would be formed hopefully by the weekend to look into the Lekki shooting
The governor lamented the carnage and destruction of properties in Lagos in the last two days while also appealing to Lagosians to remain calm. He said nobody ordered the lights and the CCTV camera to be switched off. Ï will continue to apologise and engage at the highest level to ensure that the state comes back to normal.”
Asked if he has spoken with President Mohammadu Buhari since the incident, he said, “I made phone calls to the president yesterday twice. The second time I was told he was at the Federal Executive Council meeting. He was the one who asked the Chief of Defence Staff to get across to me. The CDS called me. I don’t know the reportage line of the military. They have promised to come out and that is why we see some military men outside engaging with the public yesterday. We should not have a repeat of what we saw yesterday.”
While noting in the interview that social media has been of great help in sensitizing the public, he said the medium has come with its downsides too. “I don’t want to call what is being disseminated in some cases on social media as fake news. I call them false news. That is why people should verify information before they share them. We need to be careful. There are several false information out there. People need to show more restrain at posting information.”
Sanwoolu who had been praised for the mature way he handled the EndSARS protests when it started said the unfortunate incident of the past two days in Lagos does not define his person. “I identified with the protesters both in Lekki and Alausa. I stood by them.
“I held the Nigerian flag in solidarity with them. Water was thrown at me. I collected their letter and promised that their requests would be looked into. I was the first to ensure that protesters that were injured were compensated. We have done everything within our means to ensure that the reforms of the police are being carried out. That is why I am appealing we need to stop the destruction of lives and properties.”
On the properties that have been destroyed, he said the resilience of Lagos will bring them back adding however that it was unfortunate that some people will destroy public properties that are for the common good.
He refused to be dragged into the ethnic colouration of the protest adding however that it is befuddling that the highest traditional institution in Lagos state was attacked along with public institutions.
