Lagos cannot exnorate itself from Lekki shootings – Gani Adams

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By Olatunde Abatan and Charles Okogene
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Gani Adams, has said that the Lagos State Government cannot exonerate itself from the unfortunate incident that led to the death of many peaceful youth protesters in Lekki penultimate week.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Newdawnngr, the Odua Peoples Congress(OPC) leader said the government made a mistake by inviting the military to quench a peaceful protest.
“You cannot exonerate Lagos State Government from what happened. it is very difficult to clear the state government of culpability from the way they handle the crisis” he added.
According to him,war can start from a simple mistake made by a leader adding that the Arab spring which started in Tunisia and consumed four governments in Africa is a clear example of how a war can start from a single mistake by a leader.
In his view,since the military are only trained to stop a protest but trained to defend the territorial integrity of the nation.
Said he,”they are only trained to defend the territorial integrity if a nation not to keep peace. It is rather unfortunate that they allowed what happened because government is supposed to have listened to the youths and not attack them”.
“What has happened is what any living would should condemn globally because they have drawn us back years and it is shameful that some of our leaders who were in he trenches with us during the struggle against military rule are still behaving like we are in military rule”, the OPC leader declared.
He also condemn a video by a Yoruba activist in London calling on IBO’s in Yorubaland to leave the territory adding that the author,Aseyemi Godson,didn’t have any mandate of Yoruba leaders to make such a divisive statement and viral it.
” How can you discuss a crisis at home from abroad without consulting with those at home .such a thing is not proper because crisis is not politics. If there is a crisis on ground you can talk about it and don’t create impediment to the resolution of our crisis.”he declared.
Otunba Adams also called on the federal government to dialogue with the youths adding that the government have to listen to yearnings of Nigerians in the Diaspora who are also concerned about developments at home and also serve as influence to the agitation of the youths.

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