PDP Condemns FG For Arresting Protesters While They Pamper Terrorists

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday described the arrest of #OccupyLekki protesters on Saturday as a reminder of Nigerians experience in the hands of military dictators.

The chairman of the party in Lagos State, Adedeji Doherty, called out the state Governor, Sanwo-Olu over arrest, humiliation of protesters, demands discontinuation of their trial.”

The chairman said, “It is a shameful irony that a government that is pampering terrorists could send policemen armed to the teeth against civilians who only expressed their displeasure over a government decision.”

“Lagosians will never believe that a time will come in the state when citizens’ rights to peaceful protests will be muscled by a supposed democratic government.”

“It is now clear that all that matters to the APC (All Progressives Congress) government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the billions of naira generated at the Lekki Toll Gate, and not the welfare of the people.”

He also condemned the decision of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution created to investigate cases of police brutality in the state for ordering the reopening of the Lekki Toll Gate

“When did it become the duty of a judicial panel of inquiry to order the resumption of collection of tolls at a Toll Gate, which was shut down owing to the alleged killing of youths whose only offence is that they demanded that SARS policemen should stop killing them?”

“The Lagos State Government and most especially, the members of the House of Assembly from Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe LGAs should open up a public hearing or referendum on the reopening of this controversial tollgate to show the world that democracy is really the order of the day in Lagos State, instead of trying to crush a peaceful protest without presenting any kind of alternative medium of diplomacy as it concerns the tollgate issue.”

“As for those who were arrested among the protesters, we wish to tell them to remain strong, committed, and resolute in their quest for a Nigeria where the government does the right thing and citizens are allowed to ventilate their grievances against government freely,” the PDP chairman said.