I stand with the people on right to protest – Tinubu

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said he remained an avowed believer in the right of the people to peaceful protest against oppression and demand for justice.

Although he said he stood with the people in exercising this right, he maintained that he had nothing to profit politically from the #EndSARS protest.

The former Lagos State governor gave this position in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘The #EndSARS protests: A fundamental lesson in democratic governance.’

He said the #EndSARS protest, and its fallout, including the shooting of the peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate by soldiers, had “complicated matters” for him.

Tinubu, who lamented that he was first accused of sponsoring the #EndSARS protest, then later of sending soldiers to shoot at the protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday night to disperse them, said he had knowledge that “certain malevolent elements” hiding under #EndSARS protests were going to attack the TVC and The Nation, two media outfits in which he has business interest.

He, however, said he could not do anything to stop the attackers and arsonists.

He said his political enemies falsely claimed that he sent soldiers to the tollgate because he had financial interest in the tollgate and he was losing revenue due to the prolonged protest.

He said the claim was a “complete and terrible lie,” being sponsored by his political enemies to pit him against the state and the Federal Government.

Tinubu said he neither had investment in the Lekki tollgate nor sent soldiers to disperse the protesters but admitted that “I am, indeed, a promoter and financial investor in The Nation newspaper and TVC.”

“There is no rationale that can adequately explain why I would order soldiers to repel peaceful protesters from the tollgate, where I have no financial interest, yet, choose to do nothing to protect my investments in The Nation and TVC,” Tinubu said.

He said the attacks on TVC and The Nation newspaper were carried out by his political enemies.

Tinubu said, “The present situation clearly does nothing to profit me politically or otherwise. It has complicated matters for me because many people now wrongfully blame me for a violent incident in which I played no part. Still, I stand strongly behind the people of Nigeria and affirm their right to protest peacefully.

“Along with all well-meaning, patriotic Nigerians, I want to see an end to all forms of institutionalised brutality and I shall do my utmost to see that this humane objective is realised.”