SHOWDOWN: Jonathan's deployment of soldiers on streets opposed by Lagos Gov. Fashola, civic groups

Jonathan’s deployment of soldiers on streets draw anger of civic groups, Lagos Gov. Fashola, others

https://usafricaonline.com/2012/01/16/jonathans-deployment-of-soldiers-on-streets-draw-anger-fashola-civic-groups-by-chido-nwangwu

Special to USAfricaonline.com, the USAfrica-powered e-groups of Nigeria360, UNNalumni, IgboEvents and CLASSmagazine Houston.

USAfrica: President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to deploy armed soldiers early today Monday January 16, 2012 deployed soldiers armed with kalashnikov rifles, bayonets and tanks across major locations and zones in Lagos has been condemned by the State’s Governor Babatunde Fashola, The Save Nigeria Group (led by Pastor Tunde Bakare), several musicians, leaders of labour and civic groups.

A few minutes ago, Fashola called on Jonathan for an urgent “reconsideration of the decision to deploy soldiers and implore the President and Commander-in-Chief to direct their withdrawal from our streets.”

Fashola said that the Police is a better agency to interact with those peaceful demonstrations, arguing that “For me this is not a matter for the military. The sooner we rethink and rescind this decision the better and stronger our democracy will be. If anything, this is a most welcome transformation of our democracy in the sense that it provokes a discussion of economic policies and this inevitably may result in political debate.”
President Jonathan raised concerns about the direction of the demonstrations in his speech earlier today, reported and posted here on USAfricaonline.com.

He said that protests were being “hijacked” by partisans and individuals who he alleged are planning to sow “discord, anarchy and insecurity.”

Fashola, a lawyer and popular Governor, countered that the demonstrations have been peaceful. “This is not justification for sending out soldiers to a gathering of unarmed citizens. Every one of us, or at least majority of us who hold public office danced and sang before these same people when we were seeking their votes. Why should we feel irritated when they sing and dance in protest against what we have done?”
Another issue of concern for the activists and artistes is the musical instruments set up at the main Ojota site were destroyed.
A civil rights activist in Ikeja Ikenna Okoronkwo told USAfricaonline.com correspondent in Lagos that “this is really a sad turn of events that the Jonathan presidency decided to call in armed soldiers to confront Nigerians who merely said “no” to high fuel prices. I fought for and supported him when some powerful people tried to stop him (as VP) from succeeding the late President Yar’Adua. He may regret this move.”
But President Jonathan said prior to the unannounced deployment of soldiers that there was “near-breakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of intimidation, harassment and outright subversion of the Nigerian state.” The protesters and activists disagree with Jonathan’s about the scope and manner of the protests.

Evidently, as the two clashing outlooks on democracy, protests, economic equity and security issues in the country of 155 million citizens move to another level, Nigerians and Nigeria, realistically, should expect a challenging, unique week, a dramatic month of January and a very eventful year of 2012. By Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks (with USAfrica reporters in Nigeria).

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Nigeria’s Federal Republic of Insecurity. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfrica, USAfricaonline.com and the Nigeria360 e-group. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/12/17/nigeria-federal-republic-of-insecurity-by-chido-nwangwu/ : IF any of the Nigerian President’s 100 advisers has the polite courage for the extraordinary task of reminding His Excellency of his foremost, sworn, constitutional obligation to the national interest about security and safety of Nigerians and all who sojourn in Nigeria, please whisper clearly to Mr. President that I said, respectfully: Nigerians, at home and abroad, are still concerned and afraid for living in what I call Nigeria’s Federal Republic of Insecurity. FULL text of commentary at USAfricaonline.com https://usafricaonline.com/2011/12/17/nigeria-federal-republic-of-insecurity-by-chido-nwangwu/

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http://www.groundreport.com/World/310-killed-by-Nigerias-talibans-in-Bauchi-Yobe-n-M/2904584

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