William Golding's Lord of the Flies, best illustrates the tragic drama playing out in Lagos at present. Golding's major character, Ralph, at the end of the narration weeps for 'the end of innocence,' of the boys who started out with the genuine love, care and fear usually associated with the innocence of children but are now ending up on the opposite side of goodness. Like Adam and Eve, they followed their passions, desires and emotions and fell from paradise. For the Lagos state government, the last three months appear to have brought out the truth in the title of the August 2000 album by the metalcore band Adamantium, When It Rains, It Pours. It takes more than raw courage to smile at the situation on ground today for a government that had for over five years enjoyed public support and acclamation. The Fashola administration did so well in its first term that it almost became the benchmark in matters of good governance, respect for the rule of law and best practices in public administration. All those appear to be fast disappearing as its rating plummets in people's estimation and is confronted with protests amidst all sorts of allegations, real and imagined.For the governed in Lagos, overburdening taxation has almost always been their lot. They rarely complain. Their complaints in the past had, at best, been whimpering protestations in the confines of their individual homes. Lagos is too cosmopolitan and its inhabitants too commercial oriented and individualistic to forge any common front for a street protest. All that appears to be in the past. A new awareness of group interest and group reaction appears to have seized the city. The first real signal that all was not well with Lagos and the ruling party showed during the recent local government elections there. To maintain its hold on all the local governments, winners of the elections had to be centrally announced without the figures scored by each of them. The noise generated by that event was quickly followed by even a louder one over an increase in the fees payable by students of the Lagos State University (LASU). However, while the protests were left for the affected students to carry out, the demonstrations against payment of tolls on Lekki- Ajah- Epe road which commenced on December 18, 2011 was ironically spearheaded by the affluent and the privileged. And this is where the new Lagos appears to be emerging. Many of those who trooped out on Saturday 17 December did so not because they could not afford the about N900 toll fee per vehicle per day. They did because they felt the government was not fair to them.Earlier this year in Tunisia, a certain Mohammed Bouazizi set himself ablaze and ignited a conflagration that has swept through the entire North Africa. Tunisia was least expected to be the launch pad of a revolution. But one man has made that to be. The fire started by Bouazizi is still burning and has consumed persons and institutions that were hitherto regarded as untouchable. And as the Yoruba say, the King of heaven alone knows how many victims a persistently falling rain would claim. Thus, at a period when the opposition ACN was plotting to cash in on expected missteps of PDP's Jonathan presidency on the oil subsidy problem, an unexpected fire has erupted right on the corridor of the opposition party that flaunts credentials of altruism and progressivism.Indeed, an activist lawyer, Ebun Olu- Adegboruwa was the Bouazizi of the unfolding unraveling of Lagos. He started some months ago by going to court challenging the legality and morality of the tolls. The case has gone through some rough weathers. It is still on. While Adegboruwa waited for the case to take off normally, the Lagos state government announced it would commence the tolls collection at 12midnight of 18th December. And so, by dawn of the 17th, the well-heeled residents, reportedly coordinated by Adegboruwa, filed out for what they described as OccupyLekki, a term borrowed from OccupyWallstreet, a rash of protests over economic issues that has continued to rack the United States.Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was formed by a Canadian activist group called Adbusters as a protest movement. It started its protest on September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, in New York City's Wall Street financial district. The group said it was protesting against 'social and economic inequality, high unemployment, greed, as well as corruption, and the undue influence of corporations'particularly from the financial services sector'on government.' They said they were the 99 percent protesting against the wealthiest 1% and its economic policies. Since September when it debuted, the monied class in the developed world has been on tenter-hooks. The Lagos occupiers were not exactly all in the 99 per cent class. Indeed, the key leaders of the revolt were of the very rich in the Nigerian society. In coming out, they apparently saw wisdom in J.F. Kennedy's declaration that 'a society that cannot help the many poor cannot save the few that are rich.' One of them, actually said his office is the Mercedez Centre with over 100 workers who owned cars and who would pay the new tolls from their meagre pay.However, their social status and peaceful demeanour did not protect them from being attacked by thugs and armed policemen.A resident of the area, Abdulrazaq O Hamzat, in a statement widely circulated on the internet during the week traced the history of the Lekki- Epe road to the Lateef Jakande administration.According to him, 'the Lekki-Epe express road was conceived and started by the Jakande administration and completed by the Gbolahan Mudashiru and Mike Akhigbe military administrations in 1987. The entire Lekki axis was then opened up for rapid development. Between 1985 and now, the corridor has been experiencing rapid and unprecedented urban growth as hundreds of new communities, developments and estates have developed which drew a large population of low and middle income Lagosians.'The last administration (of Tinubu), realizing the urgent need to address the fast growing problem of road congestion conceived the idea of the expansion of the existing express road into a six-lane roadway and the construction of an alternate coastal road that will run from Ahmadu Bello way in Bar Beach, along the shores of the Atlantic ocean towards Ibeju-Lekki Local Government area. The third leg was the construction of a fourth mainland bridge, from Langbasa area near Ajah across the Lagos Lagoon to Ikorodu town and detouring somewhere to join the existing third mainland bridge thereby forming a circular road around Lagos.'A committee was initially set up which recommended the adoption of the PPP concept to handle the project since it was thought then that because of the magnitude of the project, the state government might have to collaborate with the private sector under a Private-Public-Participation (PPP) model to handle the project,' the resident said while adding that the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) came in at this pointand was chosen to handle the project as a consortium and another company, ARM was appointed as the financial adviser.'He alleged that the ' LCC immediately asked for 1,000 hectares of prime land as the contribution of the state government to the project. This was immediately granted by Tinubu and he released the c of o within weeks for 1,000 hectares of prime land at Awoyaya, Abijo, Eputu and Sapati all in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area. Part of the land is now being developed as ADIVA housing and golf course project by ARM. The project was later jettisoned after obtaining the hectares of land and other payments from the state government and in its place; the rehabilitation of the existing Lekki expressway was adopted by the consortium.'He argued that there was no basis for a toll road and a 30 year concession arrangement 'for a mere rehabilitation and expansion of an existing road which the government could afford on its own. Indeed, the Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to Governor Tinubu in 2006, offering to construct the coastal road free of charge to Lagos and its people from the Lekki Free Trade Zone to Ahmadu Bello Way in VI. He also sent a letter of commitment written by a Chinese construction firm to that effect.Governor Tinubu firmly rejected this offer and instead opted to abandon the coastal road project which the concession was initially meant for and instead signed a 30 year concession for a toll road...'The rehabilitation work commenced in late 2006 with the expansion and rehabilitation of the Ozumba Mbadiwe end to Mobil building and the 49.4km main Lekki road rehabilitation started in 2007 shortly after Fashola became Governor. Already, the rehabilitation work which started in 2006 has only achieved less than 2km in over 3 years; meanwhile, the consortium has only concentrated on building the toll plazas rather than first completing the two phases for the convenience of residents. Residents in these areas spend more than six hours daily on the road while the situation will get worse during the coming rains. This has disrupted the lives of the citizens and no proper alternate road was constructed by the consortium.'The entire Lekki axis hosts millions of indigenous people who are fishermen and farmers and have occupied their lands for centuries. They are largely poor and agrarian from villages like Ajah, Badore, Elegushi, Ajiran, Sangotedo, Abijo, Ibeju, and all communities in Eti-osa, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government areas. These indigenous people along with others living in the area are now being forced to pay toll to enter and exit their fatherland. These people who have been subjected to economic misfortune occasioned by seizure of their lands by this government are now been economically drained by the imposition of toll gates within their communities. There has never been any consultations with the people neither was there any environmental impact assessment before the commencement of the project,' he declared.However, The Friday Edition could not independently verify the truth or otherwise of the allegations while all attempts made to speak with the key people mentioned in the matter were not successful.The mode of Occupywallstreet protests involved sit-ins for days at key financial institutions in a very peaceful manner. Like its American precursor, the OccupyLekki protest took off quite peacefully in a carnival manner. The affluent protesters remembered to make customised T-shirts, Fez caps and even placards for the event. They obviously planned a long protest. Some came with iced drinks and packaged food, ideas apparently borrowed from the US protests. But they were in Nigeria. It did not work out as they planned. By the time the events that followed started happening, it was like a drama. First thugs attacked them, then policemen swooped on them 'to bring the situation under control.'At the end of the police intervention, no thug was arrested, 23 protesting residents were seized and thrown into mobile prisons known in Nigeria as Black Maria trucks. The trucks were designed originally and used normally to convey criminals from prisons to court for trial. It was different in Lagos. The rich not only cried, they tasted what the cheated and the deprived experience daily under the nation's justice system.Nigeria's High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and a Lagos indigene, stated that 'the Lekki-Epe corridor was opened by Alhaji Lateef Jakande without inflicting pains on Lagosians. ACN is just adding a lane to what Jakande did and they are forcing unbearable toll fees on the people. He added that: 'An average Lagosian cannot afford the toll they want to charge coupled with the astronomical increase in LASU fees. The people have the right to protest and their arrest and brutalisation only exposed the wickedness of the ACN. The attacks amounted to a declaration of war on Lagosians and we won't keep quiet. With this, the ACN government has shown that Fashola's last victory was obtained by fraud. He withdrew the fees before the election and slammed it on the people now that he is not going to contest again.'Now, where are all the civil society organisations and so called human rights advocates' People are being killed, maimed and brutalised in Lagos but because it is the ACN that is doing it to the people, these groups cannot see, they cannot hear and cannot say anything. They are blind, deaf and dump! Everyone will account for his deeds before the creator,'he said. But Obanikoro might not be entirely correct on the perceived partisanship of Civil Society Organisations and activists. At least two key human rights activists perceived as pro- ACN and Lagos State Government have come out strongly to condemn the attacks on the protesters.It appeared the incident followed a pattern. The state government has lately appeared to be very convinced of the correctness of every action it took, no matter how controversial. When LASU fees went up and protests would not stop, Fashola battled spiritedly to ward off attacks. He explained that he meant well with the new fees which were intended to rescue the institution. Fashola, who spoke at Government College, Ughelli's, annual luncheon party in Lagos, said Nigerians were 'unconsciously making the country one where there would be separate schools for the rich and poor. Countries that do not prioritise education are always at the mercy of those who place a high premium on education. Where in the world have we seen tuition fee of university of N25,000' You cannot find this anywhere. Even the nations that are developed and wealthy do not give education for N25,000. LASU started very well and over the years, the population grew and beyond the available facilities and the school began to deteriorate. We are determined to rescue LASU and we will not make it a school for the poor. We are unconsciously making Nigeria a society where there will be a school for the rich and one for the poor. Several people in this country pay so much for education abroad while the schools here continue to deteriorate. It is only in the university that the children of the rich and children of the poor can sit in the same classroom.'His reaction to the Lekki toll crisis was that the protesters were sponsored by his opponents to rubbish his intimidating profile as a performer. His government, he maintained, was committed to making life better for the people through provision of good and enduring infrastructure. The same righteous indignation followed outcries from the opposition on the badly managed uproar that greeted the last local government elections in the state. Fashola, the showman, was at the toll gate on Sunday 18th December to pay his toll and show the residents how to do it with ease. But not everyone was impressed by the explanations offered by the state government. At least not the residents who were brutalised by thugs and riot policemen.De facto leader of the OccupyLekki movement, Olu- Adegboruwa, a lawyer, issued a press statement on the day of the crisis, detailing the protesters side of the story thus:'Today, December 17, 2011, residents and indigenes of the Lekki-Ajah area trooped out in their hundreds to occupy the Lekki Toll Plaza, to protest the imposition of the unpopular Lekki Toll Fee. As early as 8.00 a.m., residents had come out in their large numbers, to commence the peaceful protest. They were carrying placards, distributing banners and leaflets and handbills to sensitize the neighbourhood. They were very peaceful.The protesters were led by Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu and the chairman of Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association, Mr. Wole Akala, lawyer and activist, Mr. Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, retired judges, retired military men, journalists, engineers, community leaders, women leaders and youths. The protest proper commenced at about 8 am, at the Lekki Phase 1 round about. It was a wonderful and peaceful sight to behold, with some residents carrying food and mattresses as a sign of their seriousness.'They got to the Admiralty Circle Plaza at about 9am, maintaining a very long distance from the toll plaza proper. The protesters were being addressed by their leaders. Suddenly, we noticed some Danfo buses driving in with great speed. They were discharging heavily armed thugs and political supporters, who rushed at the defenceless protesters to beat and harass the protesters. While this was going on, one Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Odumosu, the coordinator of Rapid Response Squad, the anti-crime outfit of the Lagos State Government, ordered the armed policemen to disperse the protesters. Suddenly, there was great pandemonium and commotion, as live tear gas canisters were shot directly into the crowd. 'While the protesters were running for safety, the police started to shoot live bullets into the crowd of the protesters whilst the thugs were rough handling and beating up the women and youths among them. 'One person was already hit by the bullet, and he lay down lifeless in his own blood. We don't know his fate till date, as the police did not allow us to offer him any medical aid. You can confirm the photographs on saharareporters.com'The protesters then retreated into the Lekki Phase 1 Estate, away from the express road. Some minutes later, Mr. Odumosu led the policemen to bombard the Lekki Phase 1 Estate and the armed policemen actually entered the estate, chasing the residents into their houses. I and some journalists were chased to a stream inside the estate until we were able to take cover in a nearby bush. Journalists were mercilessly beaten up, their cameras seized and damaged, such as STV, NTA, Channels television and one Kate Henshaw Nuptal was beaten up and manhandled.'Presently, the chairman of Lekki phase 1 residents association, Mr. Wole Akala, the chairman of Northern Foreshore estate, Lekki, Mr. Uche, Mr Uche Nwaze, community leader in Lekki Phase 1, who is just recovering from a stroke, the chairman of Lekki Phase 1 South community, Engr Kunle Ogunkoya, the cameraman of AFP/Reuters news agency, 15 other community leaders and women and youths, have been arrested by the police and are being detained at Panti SCID, Yaba, Lagos, without access to their lawyers, families and other friends. Countless other protesters were also arrested and clamped into the Black Maria and their whereabouts are not yet known. Mrs. Tolani Animashaun, the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives in the 2011 election was also arrested.'We condemn this brutal and wicked attack by the Lagos State Government and Lekki Concession Company on innocent defenceless citizens. It is barbaric and amounts to an act of state terrorism to unleash armed policemen on defenceless and innocent citizens. The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees the freedom of expression. The residents secured the permit of the Lagos State police command and that of the DPO of Maroko Police station who all approved the protest.'It is most inhuman for a government led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, to order such brutal crack down on its citizens. The case of the toll gate fee is in the Court of Appeal. One expects the government to follow the due process of law in dealing with this matter. Right now, leaders of the residents have gone into hiding, with policemen all over the various estates to arrest and detain their leaders.'We demand the immediate resignation of Governor Babatunde Fashola, as he has lost the moral right to continue to lead the people and residents of Lagos State. The lawlessness displayed and unleashed on the people today cannot be justified in any democratic society. We also demand at the immediate and unconditional release of all those who have been arrested illegally. We demand the outright cancellation of the Lekki Toll Fee and the opening up of all fenced portions of the road.'Together we shall win.'Criticisms soon flooded the media including the internet on the silence of human rights activists on the crisis. The critics were sweeping in their condemnation of the silence from the human rights community over the perceived injustice on the residents. But such critics were not being fair to, at least one of the usual loud voices on human right issues- Bamidele Aturu. Aturu, also a lawyer issued a statement which the mainstream media did not give adequate attention to. In his statement titled: 'Brutalization Of anti-toll protesters In Lekki, barbaric and irresponsible,' Aturu, in a tone distancing himself from the ACN government on the issue even threw a broadside saying 'Lagos does not belong to any party baron,' an attack which analysts say was intended for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu rumoured to be behind the company collecting the toll. Aturu's statement read:'I have just been informed of the horrifying use of unreasonable force today, the 17th of December, 2011, by police officers acting apparently under the instigation and direction of the Government of Lagos State to disperse Nigerians protesting the illegal and extortionate tolling of the main road leading to Lekki. According to information at my disposal from sources close to the protesters, not less than 21 persons have been clamped into detention by the police officers who brutalised and wounded several other protesters.From information available to us even journalists were not spared as their cameras were destroyed in the orgy of maniacal violence sponsored by the State government and those who promote the controversial commercialization of the peoples' road.'The decision of Lagos State Government to unleash violence on the people it claims to govern is barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable. It has always been recognized that dissent and protests are keys indicators of the existence of liberal democracy in any polity.'There is no warrant for the atrocious repression of citizens exercising their freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. The desperate resort to violence is doomed to fail as the government has now succeeded in drawing many of us to the barricade on the Lekki brouhaha.''Lagos State Government needs to realize that the Lekki road, as well as others, in Lagos State belongs to the people and not to the government. The necessary implication of this is that if it is unable to convince the people as to the advantages of tolling the road, it must bow to the wishes of the people. Lagos state does not belong to the government or to any political party or party baron.As it is now, although tolling has compulsorily started along that route while payment of the new LASU fees has also been rammed down the throats of Lagosians, the ACN and its government in that state appears to have wounded itself. It appears to have publicly lost its innocence on matters of human rights, public good and promotion of the rule of law.
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