Thug Violence: PDP tackles Sanwo-Olu for projecting N1 trillion to repair damages

The opposition party accuses the Sanwo-Olu-led APC government of “dishonesty and extortionate tendency”.

News Agency of Nigeria • October 26, 2020

Lagos State governor, Babajide-Sanwo-Olu (Photo Credit: Twitter)

The PDP in Lagos on Monday faulted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s alleged claim that it will take N1 trillion to restore all properties and facilities destroyed by hoodlums during the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests in the state.

The PDP disagreed with Sanwo-Olu and the ruling APC in a statement by its Lagos spokesman Taofik Gani.

Mr. Gani accused the Sanwo-Olu-led APC government of “dishonesty and extortionate tendency”.

“Our accusation is coming on the heels of the declaration by the state governor that the state will need N1 trillion to repair the destruction arising from the #EndSars attacks.

“The governor had recently told governors from the South West and ministers that the amount is projected for reconstruction purposes.

“The Lagos PDP believes that such a bogus and hasty amount can only be claimed by persons in government who are likely to benefit from such proceeds.

“The party particularly raises the alarm that the money as projected is targeted at restitution for known infrastructure and businesses of APC leaders and not honestly for all genuine victims per se,” he said.

The PDP spokesman, therefore, challenged Mr. Sanwo-Olu and the ruling party to make public every kobo and the beneficiaries as envisaged by the governor.

He added: “The trillion naira is bogus and extortionate. We specifically want to know whether the Lekki toll plaza is involved. This plaza should rather be demolished.

“The people will resist any form of approval for levy, over taxation or loan to spend the trillion naira. We put the House of Assembly on the alert to reject any bogus request.”

The #EndSARS protests in Lagos took a violent dimension on October 20 when men in military uniform shot protesters who defied the curfew at Lekki Toll-Gate.

The development sparked violence in Lagos and other states when suspected hoodlums hijacked the protest and began to kill, loot, vandalise and raze public and private buildings and vehicles.

Among the places attacked was the Palace of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, and 27 police stations across the city.

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