The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu insisted that he has no investment in Lekki toll gate as claimed by some people.
In a statement from the former governor of Lagos on Sunday, he said he could not have deployed the soldiers to quell the protest and fail to protect his investments — Television Continental (TVC) and The Nation newspaper.
The statement reads:
“The use of strong force against any peaceful protester is indefensible, completely outside the norms of a democratic society and progressive political culture to which I aspire and have devoted my public life. That people were angered by the reports of violence and death is acutely understandable,” he said.
“Understandably outraged, people sought to hold someone accountable. For various reasons, I became the most available scapegoat. Some people don’t like me because they believe the false rumors uttered about me over the years. Some maligned my name because they hide ulterior motives and harbor unrequited political scores they intend to settle.
“A week ago, such people tried to bring enmity between me and the state and federal governments by contending I was sponsoring the protests. When that did not work, they then sought to sow enmity between me and the people by saying I ordered soldiers to quash the very same protests they first accused me of organizing.
“My opponents have every right to oppose me politically but let them have the courage to do so in the open, above board and to employ facts not evil fiction in their efforts against me. They have no right to slander and defame anyone with the terrible and vile fabrications now cast at my feet.”
The former governor reiterated that while he has no investment in the tollgate as alleged, he is a “promoter and financial investor in The Nation and TVC”, both of which he learnt would be attacked amid the protests.
