CODER, OPC flay deployment of soldiers in Lagos
Criticism still trails deployment of soldiers in Lagos state as Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), flayed the action just as they called on the Federal Government to withdraw its troops without further delay.
CODER, in a statement signed by its Convener, Ayo Opadokun described the action as “an afafront on democracy,” pointing out that “since a state of emergency, which required the endorsement of the Senate had not been declared, there was no basis for deploying troops to any state within the federation.”
CODER doubted the administration’s commitment to the rule of law and democracy, pointing out that, “while the President submitted himself to Nigerians during electioneering as a humble, patient and brilliant agent of transformational agenda, he has conducted the affairs of state since assuming the reins without sensitivity to the plight of voters.”
Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Founder and President of the OPC, also in a statement also described the drafing of soldiers to the Lagos streets as “misguided, unjustified and denoted a relapse to the yesteryears of military dictatorship.”
According to him, the President was obviously ill-advised about this rather undemocratic step,” insisting that “it was a most reprehensible, undemocratic and unjustified policy that clearly visited violence on the democratic spirit of Nigerians living in Lagos State, more so as the police were on top of the situation and that singular move marred the President’s democratic credentials.”
The OPC boss reminded that “involvement of the Military in the First Republic on January 15, 1966 led to the first coup and terminated that Republic,” regretting that “now in 2012, President Jonathan on January 15 ordered the Military to take over Lagos overnight in a purely civil matter.”
While describing the measure as “ominous,” Fasehun advised the President to, as a matter of urgency order for the immediate withdraw of the soldiers telling him that there was no need for that since the state was not in chaos.
Criticism still trails deployment of soldiers in Lagos state as Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), flayed the action just as they called on the Federal Government to withdraw its troops without further delay.
CODER, in a statement signed by its Convener, Ayo Opadokun described the action as “an afafront on democracy,” pointing out that “since a state of emergency, which required the endorsement of the Senate had not been declared, there was no basis for deploying troops to any state within the federation.”
CODER doubted the administration’s commitment to the rule of law and democracy, pointing out that, “while the President submitted himself to Nigerians during electioneering as a humble, patient and brilliant agent of transformational agenda, he has conducted the affairs of state since assuming the reins without sensitivity to the plight of voters.”
Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Founder and President of the OPC, also in a statement also described the drafing of soldiers to the Lagos streets as “misguided, unjustified and denoted a relapse to the yesteryears of military dictatorship.”
According to him, the President was obviously ill-advised about this rather undemocratic step,” insisting that “it was a most reprehensible, undemocratic and unjustified policy that clearly visited violence on the democratic spirit of Nigerians living in Lagos State, more so as the police were on top of the situation and that singular move marred the President’s democratic credentials.”
The OPC boss reminded that “involvement of the Military in the First Republic on January 15, 1966 led to the first coup and terminated that Republic,” regretting that “now in 2012, President Jonathan on January 15 ordered the Military to take over Lagos overnight in a purely civil matter.”
While describing the measure as “ominous,” Fasehun advised the President to, as a matter of urgency order for the immediate withdraw of the soldiers telling him that there was no need for that since the state was not in chaos.
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