Obanikoro Knocks Fashola Over Attacks On LASU Fees Protests

Another knock has come the way of the Lagos State government following last week's police crackdown on protesting LASU students

The Federal Government has tackled the Babtunde Fashola led Lagos state government over the use of force against protesting students of the Lagos state university.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, accused Governor Fashola of being high-handed and urged him to "take it easy" 

"Once again, I want to passionately appeal to my brother @tundefashola to take it easy with the protesting students of LASU. #MO

"We can enable peaceful dialogue with LASUites without having to shoot at or tear-gas them as alleged by the students. @tundefashola #MO," Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) said in three June 10 tweets.

But according to a Punch report, the Lagos state government (LASG) denied Obnikoro's allegation, accusing the Federal Government of spreading lies.

“The students have the right to protest, and we have never, not once, stopped them. This line of information is false. Mr. Minister (Obanikoro), perhaps if you concentrate more energy on the safe rescue of our Chibok girls, you will have less time to spread lies" the Lagos State Government said.

A number Twitterzens however condemned the 'attack' on Obanikoro by the supposed LASG Twitter account (@followlasg) from which the replies came.

This tweet by MrFixNigeria captured the sentiment:

  I want to believe the Twitter handle @followlasg is a parody account of Lagos State Government. Such an embarrassment to Lagos State.
— Ohimai Godwin Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) June 10, 2014

Policemen had on Tuesday, 3rd of June, forcefully dispersed members of the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) protesting fee hike in the institution.

They fired tear gas, and, as is claimed by some, live bullets, at the students before arresting a number of them who were later arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate court two days later.

Reports have it that as many as 16 students sustained various degrees of injuries.

Obanikoro is not the first to raise alarm over the clampdown on the LASUSU protesters.

Last week, the Coordinator of the Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN)  of HRAN, Mrs Ijeoma Okwor, also issued a statement condemning the crack-down.

"Intimidation against citizens by security officers charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties does not and cannot reflect a true democratic setting,” she had said.

But the Vice-Chancellor LASU, Professor John Obafunwa, last weekend told journalists that the problems facing the institution are caused by some people who are not happy "because of the reforms being carried out" by his leadership.