Lekki Massacre: Sanwo-Olu Didn’t Invite Army - Soyinka

 

Nobel Lareaute, Wole Soyinka has said that his investigation revealed that soldiers who killed protesters at Lekki toll gate were not invited by Lagos state Governor, Sanwo-Olu.

 

Soyinka who condemned the massacre by the Nigerian Army said the centre has chosen to act in an authoritarian manner and has inflicted a near incurable wound on the community psyche.

 

In his words: “It is absolutely essential to let this government know that the Army has now replaced SARS in the demonic album of the protesters.

 

However, Soyinka asked State Governors where the Federal Government has deployed the military to quell protests to demand their withdrawals now to avoid further escalation of the crisis.

“The video has, in accustomed parlance, ‘gone viral’. I have spoken by phone to eye-witnesses. One, a noted public figure has shared his first hand testimony on television. The government should cease to insult this nation with petulant denials,” he said.

 

“To the affected governors all over the nation, there is one immediate step to take: demand the withdrawal of those soldiers. Convoke Town Hall meetings as a matter of urgency. 24-hr Curfews are not the solution. Take over the security of your people with whatever resources you can rummage.

 

“Substitute community self-policing based on Local Councils, to curb hooligan infiltration and extortionist and destructive opportunism. We commiserate with the bereaved and urge state governments to compensate material losses, wherever,” he added.

 

Soyinka said to “commence any process of healing at all – dare one assume that this is the ultimate destination of desire? – the Army must apologize, not merely to the nation but to the global community – the facts are indisputable – you, the military, opened fire on unarmed civilians. There has to be structured restitution and assurance that such aberrations will not again be recorded.