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Lekan Sote
Those who counsel Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, appear to have failed to appreciate the all-time wisdom of the first principle, whereby you deal with issues from the most foundational, to the next, and the next ad infinitum.
Though the Yoruba approach it from the opposite end, by saying you should sort many trees that fall on each other from the one at the top of the heap, then the next, and then the next, ad infinitum, the idea is essentially the same. It’s still about the first principle.
The peace walk proposed by Governor Sanwo-Olu reminds one of “I Spit On Your Grave,” the title of the movie about the woman who retaliated by hunting down, one after the other, all the four men that gang-raped her.
For Sanwo-Olu to think that by abdicating responsibility by parrying 14 of the recommendations of the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry that he set up to the Federal Government, rejecting one, modifying six and accepting 11, he has fulfilled all righteousness to advocate a peace walk, “ko jo rara,” it’s nowhere in the ballpark.
He adds: “After he ordered (sic) the killings of peaceful youth protesters at Lekki, he said he would lead the ‘Peace Walk’ to bring healing to the land.” Then he asked rhetorically, “Really? Healing to the Land? How?”
Though Attorney Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, member of the judicial panel, acknowledges that Lagos State Government has no statutory control over the military, he insisted that “Lagos State Government dithered when it came to compensation of victims of brutality by soldiers, apparently because it was connected to the (shooting) incident at the Lekki Tollgate.”
The panel’s submission that “it was alleged and corroborated that the soldiers had their vans parked at the Lekki Tollgate and removed as many bodies and corpses of the fallen protesters which they took away with their vans,” which was not cast in iron, supplied the governor with ammunition.
And the names of those presumed dead were listed twice. Also, Prof John Obafunwa reported that only one individual died of gunshots but on October 21, 2020, and not 20, was the day Lekki Tollgate was invaded by soldiers.
Pelumi Olajemgbesi cites a Supreme Court of Nigeria opinion on Momoh vs Umoru (2011), which says “that the report of a panel of enquiry is valid and could constitute res judicata (a matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court, and therefore may not be pursued further by the parties (one of which is Lagos State Government).”
He adds, for emphasis, “Let it be known that the concept of White Paper, now being given premium attention as a precursor to the implementation of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report is unknown to law.
“It is not a document known to have any authority that can be forced in law, and is merely an administrative medium for conveying the decision or position of government.”
He asserts: “The White Paper Committee set up by Lagos State Governor… lacked the legal competence to review, edit, modify, reject or alter the report of the panel. What we (should) therefore have is just the report of the panel and nothing more before or after it.”
“However, anybody (including the Federal and Lagos State governments) dissatisfied with the findings of the panel shall go to the Court of Appeal, not to the Governor, (who is a party in the matter).” Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, who happens to be a lawyer, needs to note this revelation.
Falana adds: “Murder, attempted murder, and wilful damage are all state offences, and therefore, cannot be prosecuted by the Federal Government. If the Federal Government wants to prosecute anybody for murder, it must first get the fiat of the state governments.”
Well, “White Paper” is a policy document, to make difficult issues less complex, and to inform the public of the thoughts of government on a matter. The first White Paper, on “Review of the Civil Administration of Mesopotamia,” was prepared in 1920 by Gertrude Bell, an explorer and diplomat, and was submitted to Winston Churchill, who later became British Prime Minister.
Never mind Governor Sanwo-Olu’s posturing that “Following the outcome of the Judicial Panel… I have been inundated with deep expressions of support from various groups and people declaring their readiness to join me on the symbolic (Peace) Walk.
“The deluge of support (for the Walk) is, however, indicative of one thing: our people know the strategic place of peace to our quest for development. I look forward to engaging with you as we together work (or walk?) for peace.”
Though Segun “SegaLink” was reported to have said Governor Sanwo-Olu took a mature step to bring closure to the matter, he should beware of these faceless flatterers, wolfs in sheep clothing, who will do anything for gain.
Many of those he has invited have turned down the invitation. In turning down the governor’s invitation, Folarin Falana (Falz The Bhad Guy) says he doesn’t walk with murderers. He may have been reacting to”richie_nyere’s” Instagram post that threw the challenge: “@falzthebahdguy, with all this (sic) good work you have been doing to ensure those who ordered the massacre of peaceful #EndSARS protest(ers), you won’t stood (likely meant stoop) so low to honour the invitation of the Lagos State Governor for whatever peaceful walk…”
While declining the invitation social media comedian, Debo “Mr. Macaroni “ Adesina declared, “I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government.”
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti, a son of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, echo the sentiments of reggae musician, Peter Tosh, who insisted that he wanted “no peace, but equal rights and justice.”
Adesunbo Onitiri, the spokesman of Prominence Lagos State Indigenes, hinted Governor Sanwo-Olu that “we are in perilous times. Most Lagosians are very angry and hungry,” and warned that “the Peace Walk may trigger violent reaction.”
Though Sanwo-Olu says the peace walk is called off, he sounds like a man who has retreated but did not surrender. He may still call for the peace walk without ensuring that justice is served.
