Lekki Shootings: Buhari can’t react based on conjectures – Adesina

• Says Amnesty International does not run things in this country

THE Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has cleared the air on why the president has yet to address the country on the incident that happened at the Lekki Toll Gate last week.

On Tuesday October 20, some men in Nigerian army uniform reportedly opened fire on the #EndSARS protesters demanding an end to police brutality in the country.

Though the president addressed the country after the shooting, he made no mention of the Lekki Toll-Gate incident; and repeated condemnation of his silence on the incident, and nudging by some eminent citizens, have not persuaded the president to address the incident, which has now gained international attention. 

But featuring on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ today, Adesina said the president has not spoken on the incident because he is waiting for the facts to be established so that his reaction will not be based on “mere conjectures.”

“We don’t begin to conjecture about something as very crucial as this matter. This is an issue that has attracted national and international attention; it is not right to approach it with levity or flippancy. You must ensure that whatever you say is based on facts, conjecture is not good for the process. So, once the facts are established the president will address the country.”

Adesina noted that president Buhari dispatched his ministers to their various home states to garner the facts about events that happened after the EndSARS protest.

Asked about the reports by the ministers, Adesina said: “Only two ministers had briefs ready.

“The rest are still in their respective states. They should turn in their reports in the coming week and they will help establish the truths about some things. “The ministers will come with what is near authentic.”

Adesina, who said the president has a “helicopter view” of what is happening in Nigeria, however took a swipe at the Amnesty International for its report on the Lekki shootings.

Amnesty International has said 12 fatalities were recorded at the tragic incident, but the president’s media adviser said the organisation does not run things in Nigeria.

“Amnesty International is wrong. They don’t have all the facts; they don’t run this country, so they shouldn’t know beyond what they have been told.

“Amnesty International should do its job. But it’s the duty of Nigerians to look at what they have said whether it’s justifiable or not.”