The military yesterday accused the Lagos State Government of hypocrisy for asking for the military presence and turns round to be describing them the army of occupation.
Speaking on behalf of the Defence Headquarters yesterday, Col Mohammed Yerima disclosed that the soldiers on the streets in Lagos State are the same members of the Special Task Force specially requested for by the state government for security purposes.
‘’The soldiers seen on the streets of Lagos are still the same men of the Special Task Force code-named: Operation MESA set up and sponsored by the Lagos State government g before the fuel subsidy protest, for the purpose of supporting the civil police in protecting lives and property as is the case in many parts of the country.
“The men of the Task Force who are currently in Lagos have been there and were not brought from outside Lagos. They are members of Lagos State government sponsored and the demand for their withdrawal is therefore uncalled for.’’
Yerima asked Governor Raji Fashola to follow the same procedure he used to bring the soldiers to get same off the streets instead of going to the radio and television stations and other media calling for their withdrawal for the reasons best known to him. Speaking further, the spokesman declared, ‘’we are committed to the defence and protection of our countrys hard earned democratic credential. More importantly, the Nigerian Armed Forces belongs to the Nigerian people and cannot be an Army of occupation as wrongly claimed.”
He advised members of the public to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation from any quarter and to report any breach of peace and security to law enforcement agencies in the country.
He also disclosed the readiness of the military “to assist the security agencies whose primary responsibility is the maintenance of peace and security in the society in the event of breakdown of law and order.”
But the Lagos State Government has faulted the claim, saying that the claim is not only false but misleading.
The state government also challenged the military authorities to show proof of the request of troop deployment to the streets of Lagos State.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdullateef Aderemi Ibirogba, Lagos State government said, instead of simply taking the honourable path by apologising to the people of Lagos for an unpopular act, they have resorted to offering spurious and bogus claims aimed at deceiving the people.
“That this claim is coming four days after the Governor’s address, which he followed with a letter to the Presidency, is an obvious afterthought. It is also inconsistent with the explanation offered by the Minister of Defence who said that they deployed the soldiers in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“This attempt to cover up has left the public with much confusion, as the Minister of Defence offered one reason and the Military authority has offered another. They should just take the honourable path by apologizing to the people of Lagos State and withdraw the soldiers forthwith.”