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LASU fees,Lekki protests and brutality in Lagos
By Ayodele Akele
Posted Fri Dec 23,2011
Akele
THE BEGINNING OF THE END?
Let me welcome you all on behalf of members of Human Rights
Defenders Network, HURIDEN, at home and in the diaspora to this
crucial and emergency press
conference put together by HURIDEN to join millions of
well-meaning Nigerian, particularly Lagos State residents in
expressing our concern and worry over the developing issues in
Lagos State in the last couple of weeks particularly the
imposition of unwanted toll plaza on Lagos state residents
by the LASG and the
attendant unprovoked attack and brutalization of peaceful
protesters,journalists,children,women, passersby by its agents
(LSG) including the
callous hike in LASU school fees.Ladies and gentlemen as you
might have been aware HURIDEN is a not-for-profit,
non-governmental organization,cutting across linguistic and
ethnic barriers with passion and focus on and campaign against
all forms of human rights abuse and violations as a key
component of its work and committed to making human rights and
life of dignity
a reality to all peoples.It is a metamorphosis of
coalition of human rights groups and activists that has in the
past campaigned vigorously and secured freedom for Chief(Dr)
Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB,Otunba(Dr)Gani Adams
and others of OPC ,AlhjiMujahidAsariDokubo
of Niger Delta Volunteer Force,NDVF all self-determination
activists and protagonists just to mention a few
OBNOXIOUS AND INHUMAN HIKE IN FESS AT LASU
So much have been said by the members of the public even
newspaper editorials have also be in the forefront of condemning
the unjust and inhuman hike in LASU school fess.In disregard to
public opinions and feelings for poor student populace that
constitute a large percentage of Lagos residents,
tuition fees, which was previously about of N25,000, is raised
to N193,750 at the Arts and Education faculties per session per
student while Law students will cough out with N248,750 each.
For students of Social and Management Studies would have to each
pay N223,750; Communication, Transport and Engineering courses
will vomit N238,750 per student and for medical students the
list fess per student is put at N348,750 per session. The
fees do not include the cost of accommodation, feeding,
transportation, books, emergency health care and other
exigencies.In a state where the minimum wage of N18,000 is not
fully paid but bastardised with distortions.over taxation,
multiple taxations, with little or nothing left as take home
pay, how can the children of the poor or least paid civil
servants, marginalized and other oppressed strata of the society
afford to pay for the education of their children? The question
again is how much did Governor RajiFasholaactually pay as school
fees throughout the duration of his law studentship at the
University of Benin? Did he pay at all or did he ever pay up to
N50,000 throughout the duration of his studies for 5years at
UNIBEN including feeding, accommodation, books, transportation
or has he forgotten he was an indigent student? Would Governor
Fashola have the benefit of education if such impediments (were)
placed on the way of his
poor parents by any government?
IMPOSITION OF UNPOPULAR TOLL ON LAGOSIANS AND BRUTALITY OF
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS
As if the 500% hike in LASU fees is not enough insult on
Lagosians,Governor Fashola also again dared Lagosians by
imposing toll payment along Lekki corridor of Admirality
way,Lekki the only
link road/access
to several residential accommodation opened up and
constructed by AlhajiLateef Jakande. Practical
implication/analysis of Governor Fshola’s assault on Lagos
residents typically on bike or popular okada the ordinary man
will pay N50 per one way trip giving N100 per return multiplied
by 3 tolls is N300 per day and N9,300 per month with 31days and
N111,600/year.If it is one toll alone this comes to N37,200 and
If his minimum wage salary is N18,000 this means he has to save
his 2months salary each year to cover his transportation for the
year.His family has to move around,eat,shelter and cloth and
they must not fall sick!.
PEOPLES’
REACTION
On,
December 17, 2011, residents and indigenes of the Lekki-Ajah
area trooped out in their hundreds to occupy the Lekki Toll
Plaza, to protest the imposition of the unpopular Lekki Toll
Fee. As early as 8am, residents had come out in their large
numbers, to commence the peaceful protest. They were carrying
placards, distributing banners and leaflets and handbills to
sensitize the neighborhood. They were very peaceful. Eye witness
account said the protesters were led by Dr. AusbethAjagu and the
chairman of Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association, Mr. WoleAkala,
lawyer and activist, Mr. Ebun-oluAdegboruwa, retired judges,
retired military men, journalists, engineers, community leaders,
women leaders and youths. The protest proper commenced at about
8 am, at the Lekki Phase 1 round about. It was a wonderful and
peaceful sight to behold, with some residents carrying food and
mattresses as a sign of their seriousness. They got to the
Admiralty Circle Plaza at about 9am, maintaining a very long
distance from the toll plaza proper. The protesters were being
addressed by their leaders. According to report they suddenly,
noticed some Danfo buses driving in with great speed. They were
discharging heavily armed thugs and political supporters, who
rushed at the defenseless protesters to beat and harass the
protesters. While this was going on, one Chief Superintendent of
Police, Mr. Odumosu, the coordinator of Rapid Response Squad,
the anti-crime outfit of the Lagos State Government, ordered the
armed policemen to disperse the protesters. Suddenly, there was
great pandemonium and commotion, as …tear gas canisters were
shot directly into the crowd. While the protesters were running
for safety, the police started to shoot live bullets into the
crowd of the protesters whilst the thugs were rough handling and
beating up the women and youths among them. One person was
already hit by the bullet, and he lay down lifeless in his own
blood. The police did not allow any offer of medical assistance
to him. This can be confirmed in the photographs on
saharareporters.com
The
protesters then retreated into the Lekki Phase 1 estate, away
from the express road. Some minutes later, Mr. Odumosu led the
policemen to bombard the Lekki phase 1 estate and the armed
policemen actually entered the estate, chasing the residents
into their houses. Barrister Ebun-OluAdegborowa confirmed he and
some journalists were chased to a stream inside the estate until
they were able to take cover in a nearby bush. Journalists were
mercilessly beaten up, their cameras seized and damaged, such as
STV, NTA, Channels television and one Kate HenshawNuttal was
beaten up and manhandled
The
latest report is that one of the protesters is dead from bullet
wound of CSP OdumosuThis is one extra judicial killing too many.
Therefore it is high time CSP Odumosu and his principals are
brought to book. I was the arrow-head and leader of Lagos
workers duringthe titanic struggle of Lagos State workers over
minimum wage and better conditions of service under the
tyrannical rule of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This sameHakeem Odumosu.
- the head of
dreaded,private killer squad of Bola Tinubu but disguised as RRS
and also inherited byGov. RajiFashola,SAN,was also
responsible for the repression and brutalization of workers
during our peaceful protest then.It’s on record, not a pin was
broken by theworkers.At the behest of Bola Tinubu police was
invited to our peaceful protest.Mr. BolaTinubu ordered that we
should be dealt with instantly the same way Fashola did to Lekki
peaceful assembly. Live bullets were used on us and in the
process a worker Adigun Popoola was killed.Several labour
leaders were also arrested by Odumosu whisked away and detained
in Panti for weeks. Regrettably one of the labour leaders,a lady
Mrs Lucy Effiong(still alive),thenLagos State Secretary of
Nigerian Civil Service Union, lost her six month old pregnancy
due to Police brutality,arrest,toture and unlawful detention at
Pantialong with other labour leaders on the orders of Bola Ahmed
Tinubu.Though they pretend to be friendly to the public, Lagos
State Governmenthas perchance for victimization,intolerance and
highhandedness.Our(Lagos workers) demand for a fair deal from
government of Lagos State led to my victimization, premature and
unjust sack without query along with core labour leaders in the
fore front of the struggle in 2011.Bola Tinubu was the only
Governor with the notorious record (not even PDP Governors) of
victimizing and retrenching workers including labour leaders
twice within his 8 years tenure, massacring over 40,000
jobs.Chairman of Lagos Doctors was also scapegoated and thrown
out of job for leading his peers for better conditions of
service, thereby making victimization and persecution the price
of leadership, which to us is a perverted philosophy. After all
somebody must lead!This head of Bola Tinubu’s security outfit
called RRS,MrHakeem Odumosu has been in Lagos for over 15years
without transfer and if ever he was, it was briefly to Yobe
State and Bola Ahmed Tinubu pressed the bottom and he (Odumosu)
was quickly returned back not only to Lagos
State but to operational base -Alausa seat of government
to do Tinubu’s,ACN,Fashola’s bidding, by a supposed Federal
Government Agency, Nigeria Police, particularly Lagos State
Police Command, tragically and fully pocketed by Bola Tinubu!
Who is controlling the Nigeria Police, FGN,IG,Bola Tinubu,ACN or
Fashola?For your information this Bola Tinubu’s RRS as inherited
byFashola, extremely partisan is an assemblage of ACN
thugs,loyalists,members, sympathizers and they work hand in hand
in committing atrocities all over Lagos including during
elections at all levels.It is high time the RRS is reconstituted
in Lagos to serve genuine public interests. Right now the only ‘genuine’protest
authorized by LSG is government sponsored organized protests or
Tinubu’s organized protests or ACN organized protests to shed
crocodile tears over Justice Ayo Salami’s victimization (as if
they are not guilty of victimizing people),or to shore support
for ‘Asiwaju’ over his continuous looting of Lagos State
treasury,while his stooge Governor RajiFashola will be waiting
to receive ‘their” protest letters.Any other protest including
LASU student’s Lekkipeoples’,worker’s e.tc to express their
views are marked for brutal repression. The entire LASU campus -
an academic environment is under siege of armored tank, in
anticipation of student’s protests over bad government policies.
Is it not clear that this government of Lagos state is tending
towards tyranny and despotism?We must all rise up and say no to
despotism!
This
is why it gladdens our heart and
I salute them for the solidarity demonstrated thus far
the persecuted Lekki
people from, the Nigeria Labour Congress,The former NBA
President OllisaAgbakoba,SAN,,Barrister Femi
Falana, BamideleAturu, Richard Akinnola etc.We are proud
of you all, while we are waiting for Prof Wole Soyinka to find
soon his lost voice on this issue. We call theNBA,progressive
Nigerians,elder states men, international communities,the
Embassy of the US in Nigeria,EU counties etc to add their voice
in support of the suffering Lagos residents. This is because
.only a concerted effort will make this apparently recalcitrant
Lagos State government and their god father to back down. Power
corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely. Having ‘won’ the
2011 election, massively manipulated with billions of looted
public funds it is only natural for any Governor to be power
drunk and look down on the electorates..After all you cannot cry
more than the bereaved. If Lagos residents say no to a toll
policy, how can you insist on such?The only wise option is to
subject such policy to a plebiscite.Was there ever public
hearing on the desirability or otherwise of these controversial
policies? This is a battle Fashola and his godfather cannot win
in the final analysis. It is still much more honorable now to
bow to the wishes and voice of the people which is the voice of
God before this government is isolated by the same people that
purported voted them into office! Then it willbe thebeginning of
the end!! A word is enough for the wise!!!
OUR
DEMANDS
LASU
FEES HIKE
1
Call
on Governor BabatundeFashola to reverse the oppressive LASU fees
immediately
2
Call
on Governor Fashola to immediately withdraw the armored tank and
the siege on LASU campus for a conducive learning environment.
No meaningful learning can take place in LASU under the present
tense situation. This is also not good for our youths as they
are being psychological militarized
3
Call
on members of the public,stakeholders, parents,guardians,members
of civil society,senior citizens,Lagos law makers at Federal and
State level must support the students just demand to ensure that
this oppressive fees is reversed as soon as possible
4
It
will be in the interest of the students not to be violent in
their agitation but to remain peace but be resolute in their
demand. This government cannot be trusted not to kill at the
slightest provocation and we do not want to lose any of them
THE LEKKI
TOLL
1
We join the NLC in the
demand by calling on President Goodluck Jonathan, President,
Federal Republic Of Nigeria,FGN,to set an enquiry, for immediate
and comprehensive probe(not by Lagos state Government as they
are culpable) of this brutalization of peaceful Lekkiprotesters,
journalists, women, children and passersby on the orders of
Governor BabtundeFashola that led many being injured with at
list one dead.The probe should also cover the killing of a
worker Adigun Popoola
in similar peace workers’ protest in 2001 when Bola Ahmed
Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State We give the Federal
Government 7days to set up this enquiry
2
Failure to do so we shall be
left with no option than to take our case outside the shores of
Nigeria and call on the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights or/and Office of UN Special Rapporteuron Human Rights
abuse to investigate thecontinuous Grossand systematic human
rights abuse and violations, crimes against humanity including
the present and previous extra judicial killings by Lagos State
Government
3
We reject any probe set up
by Lagos State Government over this matter,since they are the
perpetrators of this heinous crime, they cannot be the judge,the
investigator or prosecutor in their case. It is a smart and
desperate attempt to cover up their tracks!
4
Immediate suspension of the
Toll payment until a public plebiscite is conducted by
independent body as to whether Lagos Residents want the Toll
5
Immediate disbandment by
FGN, of the present partisan RRS in Lagos state, made up sit
tight officers,ACN thugs, sympathizers that has become a regular
tool of oppression,brutalization,killing,maiming and terrorizing
Lagos residents. A new RRS comprising neutral, non-partisan,
dedicated office should be constituted and posted to Lagos
state.
6
Immediate arrest and
prosecution of CSPHaheemOdumosu the head of so called RSS, the
Managing Director of LCC and any other person connected with the
incident on that fateful day and over the killing of a worker
Adigun Popoola in peaceful workers protest in 2001
7
Investigation of the role of
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, grand commander’ RSS in the mayhem,the
incumbent governor of Lagos state, RajiFashola for prosecution
(after living office) over crimes against humanity and
systematic human rights abuse and violation in the mayhem
8
Arrest and prosecution of
Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the killing of a worker, Adigun Popoola in
a peacefulprotest over minimum wage in 2001,when he was the
Governor of Lagos State
9
Total ban on the use of
Black Maria to’ pack’ innocent peaceful protesters.Poor market
women, okadaridders,pure water sellersetc! It is dehumanizing!
Black Maria should be carry hardened criminals, treasury looters
and corrupt politicians who can also be classified as terrorists
10
Immediate withdrawal of the
police siege and armored tank along the controversial Toll area
for the restoration of peace and tranquility that has hitherto
prevailed so that can go about their normal duty without fear
molestation
11
Unreserved apology by
Governor BabatundeFasholato Lagos residents,the victims and
their family for the embarrassment
12
Compensation and full medical
attention for all those wounded at the expense of Lagos State
Government
13
Adequate compensation by
Lagos State government for the family of the bereaved including
responsibility to the dependents including Adigun
Popoola’sdependents
Never
again shall this barbarism, crude and naked use of power and
abuse of office reminiscent of dark days of military
dictatorship rare its ugly head again in Lagos State or any part
of Nigeria for that matter….
Being the Text Of Address Delivered By Comrade Ayodele
Akele,Chair,Human Rights Defenders Network,Huriden, At A World
Press Conference Organised By Huriden,Over The Lekki
Toll,Brutalisation Of Peaceful
Protesters,Journalists,Women,Children,Etc By Agents Of Lsg,Hike
In Lasu School Fees
– Thursday,22nd December,2011.Email:huriden33@yahoo.com
Th
This is the document referred to in the Witness
Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as
“Exhibit
CO
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