The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, yesterday, called on the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to immediately resign for lying to Nigerians.
This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the sack of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and the immediate removal of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s immunity over the #EndSARS panel report.
The caucus made the call following the report of the Panel of Investigation set by the Lagos State Government to unravel the incident of October 20, 2020, at the popular Lekki Tollgate, Lagos State.
The report released last Monday indicted the police and soldiers of the Nigerian Army of killing defenceless youths protesting police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria.
Mohammed, in a series of press conferences, denied the massacre and even made the CNN retract its report.
Reacting to the report, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said the Federal Government has a lot of questions to answer regarding the killings.
The minority caucus in a statement issued, yesterday, accused officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to cover up the now confirmed bloody massacre of Nigerians youths by security forces at the Lekki Tollgate
The statement reads: “The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, after a thorough review of the report of the Lagos State #EndSARS judicial panel, holds that the attempt by officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to cover up the now confirmed bloody massacre of Nigerians youths by security forces at the Lekki Tollgate suggests a high-level state-backed conspiracy against Nigerians.
“The confirmation by the Lagos Panel that there was indeed a massacre at the Lekki Tollgate during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lagos and that APC government-controlled security forces carted away bodies and mopped up evidence, places a huge burden on the Federal Government which had vehemently denied any killings.
“The minority caucus is, therefore, apprehensive as to what furtive motive must have made the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who ought to know the truth, to rush to the media, ahead of the judicial panel, to insist that there were no killings at Lekki Tollgate, even in the face of testimonies of witnesses at the sad event.
“Whereas the proclivity of the APC-led administration to lie to Nigerians on issues is legendary and known to all, our caucus is however shocked that the administration can lie in a matter that has to do with the gruesome killing of citizens, particularly our youths and even attempt to provide official cover to the culprits.
“As representatives of the people, the minority caucus holds that killing of our young one for having the audacity to demand for justice, rule of law and good governance in our nation is the height of wickedness which will continue to haunt the APC and its administration until justice is served.
“The report of the Lagos panel shows that no matter how lies and falsehood try to prevail, the truth will always triumph at the end. The blood of the innocent slain at Lekki Tollgate cry out for justice and there will be no rest for their killers and those who give support or cover to the murderous act.
“The minority caucus, therefore, calls on the APC-led administration to come clean on the killings as well as the furtive moves to cover up the vicious act. Also, given the findings of the Lagos panel, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected to resign immediately or be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Our caucus commends the Lagos panel for its boldness in the pursuit of truth and justice and urges other panels investigating allegations of brutality in other states not to be deterred but ensure that the truth is not suppressed.
“While commiserating with the victims of the Lekki Tollgate attack, particularly the families of those killed, the minority caucus urges Nigerians to remain calm at this crucial moment, as we will leave no stone unturned in using our legislative instruments to join forces with other well-meaning Nigerians to get justice for our people.”
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Director of New Media, Anthony Ehilebo, has called for the sack of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, over the #EndSARS panel report.
Ehilebo also called for the immediate removal of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s immunity.
The Abuja-based lawyer made the call while reacting to the Lagos State #EndSARS panel which indicted the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, and the police.
Speaking with newsmen, the PDP Media director explained that the #EndSARS massacre was the second massacre Buratai allegedly presided over while in office.
Lamenting the circumstances surrounding the Lekki Tollgate shooting, Ehilebo said the then Inspector General of Police should also be recalled and probed.
According to Ehilebo: “Lai Mohammed should be sacked, and three things should happen. Buratai’s immunity should be revoked immediately; the National Assembly is joking. #EndSARS is the second massacre he presided over. The IG of Police during the #EndSARS protest should be recalled.”
Ehilebo also said the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu should be commended for establishing the #EndSARS panel.
He, however, called on the governor to ensure the implementation of the panel’s recommendations.
Ehilebo said: “They were a very brave set of human beings, for whatever reason, I will forgive Sanwo-Olu if he implements the findings of that panel. I think rather than condemnation, Sanwo-Olu deserves commendation.
“Despite being in opposition, if you see what is done out of courage, you don’t need to politicize it. He was absolutely courageous.
“History will judge Sanwo-Olu very kindly for letting the truth come out. I and my friends are still arguing, why will he allow that kind of thing.”
He urged constituted authorities to probe who ordered the soldiers drafted to Lekki Tollgate during the protest to shoot live ammunition at protesters.
The constitutional lawyer wondered why soldiers would shoot at Nigerians singing the national anthem while holding the country’s flag.
He said: “Who gave those instructions? The Army can’t fire live ammunition without an instruction from their commander, and the commander must have had instruction from above.
“When the incident happened, those of us that could speak out were monitored, our phones were monitored; at a time I could not make calls because they killed people.
“People are saying the outcry was because #EndSARS happened in an urban environment that is why we are up in arms, but that is not the true story. It’s not because it happened in an urban environment, it’s because of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Do you know what it means to kill a citizen of your own country while they are singing the national anthem? The Army is paid and their bullets are bought by the taxes of citizens, and they opened fire on them.
“Nobody can give a soldier instruction to shoot citizens singing the Nigerian anthem while holding the country’s flag, when they are not enemies of the state.
“In the Nigerian Army there is a provision which is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, so when they go against their very principle of creation, then they have become mutinous. The circumstances surrounding that shooting is what bothers me, how can you shoot people singing the national anthem?”