Presidency Says Fashola’s Comment On Robbery Is ‘Irresponsible’

A spokesman for the Nigerian President, Dr Reuben Abati, has reacted to a statement attributed to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, that the Lekki robbery succeeded, due to the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan in the state.

After a robbery incident in Lekki area of Lagos State occurred on on Friday, the Lagos State government said that policemen in the state had been deployed to the area that the president was, resulting in poor policing of some other areas.

After he made the statement, the President’s spokesman said the statement was irresponsible and should not come from a governor.

“We consider the statement attributed to Governor Fashola as grossly and utterly irresponsible.

“We expect that a man of his status, who is the Governor of a state, should speak more responsibly. It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever that the entire police formation in a state would be deployed to protect the president of Nigeria,” he said.

Dr Reuben Abati emphasised that the President had ‘a defined team that protects him anywhere he goes’.

He further pointed out that “President Jonathan does not need the entire Police force to protect him in a state where he is loved by the people and where, as we have seen, he enjoys overwhelming support to the lead up of the 2015 presidential election”.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, said that the robbery incident which happened on Thursday evening could have been averted, if enough Police officers were available.

Four persons, including three Police officers, were killed by about 6 armed robbers who stormed a bank on Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1.

The robbers escaped in a speedboat after their operation, several witnesses said.

“Perhaps what would be would have been, but it’s sad to see all our security personnel, all our security vehicles deployed to protect one man,” said Mr Fashola.

“All the vehicles we bought for the police were stationed to receive the President in Lagos. Those policemen have children and tonight their mothers will have to explain to them why daddy is not coming home,” Governor Fashola had said.

President Jonathan visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos on Thursday, to launch a new online mobile platform, X-Gen, in order to increase global investment."