Black Tuesday: The morning after

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….Implications for Tinubu,South West and National cohesion
By Tunde Abatan
Since the culmination of the twelve days- old peaceful protest by youths demanding end to police brutality with it’s success all over the country,into a night of blood shedding,yours has ruminated deeply to sort out the intrigues and complexities of latent actions.
This are actions which started both before the massacre of defenceless youths most of those who clutch their countries national flag and sang their cherished national anthem before they breath their last.
Prior to the commencement of execution of this promising youths,tactical albeit procedural errors were made by energetic and versatile Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu who had always rose up to challenges since his assumption of office 17 months ago.
In the first instance, It is interesting and curious why with his understanding of Lagos metropolis,he choose to announce a curfew albeit giving only four hours notice before the 4 pm deadline for commencement knowing the transportation challenges of a 20 million metropolis.
Secondly,it is also curious why after the lapses were discovered and curfew or rather lockdown shifted to 9pm,soldiers who later made mince of our hopes and leaders of tomorrow were such in a hurry to enforce the curfew.
While ,investigations are still on to expose or reveal the identity of the military officer who commanded the massacre troops,it is strange why he was in a hurry to enforce the curfew few hours before its commencement.
Another question begging for answer is the reason d’être for switching off the Toll gate lights and disconnecting the Close circuit camera meant to monitor and complement security at the Toll Plaza especially when siege had been laid by the protesting youths who turned the arena not only to carnival of activism but a prayer court!
Thirdly,why by the various accounts were the soldiers who fired the lethal shots hooded?
How then knowing their real motive,did they allow their name tags to drop…. Nemesis you will say!
However,with the shootings done,the subdued anger of the bitter youths who had remained all along peaceful,well coordinated,cultured and discipline remain a puzzle.
That takes us to the blame game of the military and Governor Sanwoolu,who throughout the night journey from one hospital to the other to see the casualties of an unintended mistake in decisions and procedures which some unknown evil powers capitalised on to reign terror.
Why did the ‘authorities’ brought in soldiers to a venue adjudged the most peaceful but looks the other way to hostilities in Mushin,Benin- where there was a jail break,Kano and other hot spots in the country?
Why did the soldiers kept on pumping hot leads into youths who sang their country’s national anthem and wave its flag in obvious love for country? This remains a mirage in a civilised setting, if the shootings and killings were not premeditated?
As Professor Woke Soyinka remarked,the killings by the soldiers is simply their substitution with Special Anti robbery Squad(SARS) for which they have lost sleepless nights and days to enable them live a normal life!
Now,to the events of the morning after,Wednesday October 21st,exactly three weeks after the nations independence, also resulted in organised reprisals targeted at exacting vengeance for the unprecedented massacre.
The level and target of destruction of business and office complexes,definitely introduced new perspectives into the drama. while arson and destruction of business places and structures serving the people is novel,the vehemence of such is questionable and suspect. Suspect, because it is assumed such offices and business places remain source of living for the masses.
But this brings in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu question.
His business interests like Television Continental,TVC,Shoprite,perceived ownership of Lekki Concessionaire Company(LCC) managers of the Toll gate of death,The Nation newspapers and several other businesses portends plot of personal vendetta obviously ingrained in the mob by ‘sponsors’ within and outside the state.
Yes,Tinubu had been a thorn in the flesh of political opponents since 1999,of his destruction of his businesses decent and reasonable? After becoming governor in 1999 on the platform of Alliance for Democracy(AD) he was the ‘last man standing’ in the party after it suffered loss in 2003 elections and all the five states were lost to then opposition PDP.
Yet ,with President Olusegun Obasanjo as President, he was able to retain control of Lagos even after the schism in AD and its political death .
With Action Congress(AC) which he formed, he still holds sway and use the later to build the APC on which platform Buhari used to emerge President after three failed attempts.
Is Tinubu been rewarded with betrayal by his friends ,associates or cut to size by the Northern Fulani establishment he helped to power?
Yet,the mob also reign in Lagos Television,LAMATA other state concerns. If the purpose of the opposition is to rule the state,why destroying the states source of strength.?
Another curious angle is the destruction of Nigeria Ports Authority,Federal Road Safety Corps and other Federal agencies in a blitzkrieg while security forces looks the other way.This is rather curious. At the last count about eleven viable cash cow for Lagos have had their physical structures destroyed and reduced to rubbles.
Could real Lagos cum Yoruba patriots destroy a business legacy and pride to get at Tinubu?.
This brings to the fore the possibility of external interests from Northern and Southern parts of the country keen on upstaging and destabilising him for the perceived 2023 presidential race.
On account of this,he has his fair share of lack of foresight.
Obviously to appear nationalistic, he remain mute when issues of Restructuring for which he got his home base,the South West, vote for Buhari in 2015 ,the fourth time he contested for the coveted seat and won.
Till date mentioning of Restructuring is a no- go area for Tinubu.
Besides,when Amotekun,the regional security outfit came on board,he shrugged his shoulders apparently not interested obviously for pure political reasons and in order to appear to be a nationalist.Time has shown that this attitude was I’ll advised.
Today, only four states,Osun,Ekiti,Ondo and Oyo states have inaugurated Amotekun while Ogun and Lagos,now under attack,looks elsewhere.
If he had encouraged Amotekun,would the outsiders be brave enough to confront or destroy his businesses?
A case of when you are chased away or rejected from outside, will you be courageous enough to go back home. His business empire has practically been brought down in the anger and conspiracy by those sponsoring the attacks while his allies ,the Federal government looks elsewhere even when police and other securities forces are present.
But then till date,he remains the most prominent and formidable politician from the south west angling for the nations number job in 2023 no matter your perception of him.
Now with the free reign of hoodlums in Lagos by whoever they may be, and unknowingly helping outsiders to destroy Tinubu, they are also destroying their home infrastructures and businesses that gave employment to many.
This is the crux of the matter.
With Yoruba nation,destroying one of their strong ‘renegade’ sons is a minus especially with the turn of events and the Northern power brokers using Lagos as point of conquering the South West.
Would this not rekindle the fledgling but threatening Oduduwa republic of which emergence is not welcome by Tinubu who is eyeing the Presidency.
Today,he could not be trusted by the Yoruba he betrayed into getting their support for Buharis emergence but whose lieutenants are poised to ensure power remains in the North.
With a reticent and non -committal President like Buhari,it is doubtful whether other Yoruba serving in Buharis cabinet like former Governor Babatunde Fashola,Rauf Aregbesola ,Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Ekiti governor Kayode Fayemi could rally to save Tinubu jettisoning their own ambitions post- Buhari.
The next few months will be decisive in Nigeria’s politics especially the reawakening of Niger Delta nationality through their militants and the up and coming Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) agitations and its impart on a fragile federal government now tottering with its neo fascist tendencies.
Time will Tell.

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One thought on “Black Tuesday: The morning after

  1. Layinka Adagun

    A deep look at Contemporary happenings . I’m saddened the South West is being used as a pawn in the propaganda and the desire to effect the actualization of the BIAFRAN State

    Reply

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