FOLLOWING the suspension of protests and rallies by the labour unions, the Federal Government, on Monday, deployed armed soldiers in strategic areas in Lagos State, as a measure to guide against the use of public demonstrations for alleged narrow political interest.The NLC had, in a statement on Sunday, said it would not call out its members out on the streets, but would continue the strike, which was later suspended on Monday afternoon.The troops, which frisked vehicles and some Lagosians, took over the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota, venue of the rallies held in the state last week and dispersed the gathering crowd in addition to their presence in other areas of the city.Meanwhile, the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, on Monday, condemned the Federal Government for deploying soldiers in Lagos roads, noting the way and manner the protesters in the state had been comporting themselves peacefully since the commencement of the nationwide strike on the removal of fuel subsidy.Describing the deployment of soldiers as undemocratic in a state broadcast, Fashola submitted that 'it is not disputable that the citizens who have gathered in several parts of Lagos like Falomo, Ikorodu and Ojota, to mention a few, have largely conducterd themselves peacefully.'Singing and dancing while they expressed their displeasure at the way we have taken decision that affects them, that, in my view, should not offend those of us in government. The majority of these people who represent diverse interests have not broken any law. If they have, it is in my opinion that in a constitutional democracy, it is the police that have the responsibility for restoring law and order, if civil protest threatens the breach of peace....'Fashola, therefore, called on the Federal Government to order the immediate withdrawal of the soldiers.Also, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, condemend the deployment of soldiers in Lagos, describing it as a gross violation of the right of citizens to congregate and give expression to whatever grievances bedevilled their existence.Professor Soyinka, in a statement issued on Monday, said that 'Lagos is neither hotbed of Boko Haram nor is it the state of this very incumbent president where leaders and comrades for whom we have the deepest respect, and with whom we still share common course, have called openly for secession of their part of the nation and called upon others to join them.'This is an intolerable act of provocation that has taken underhand advantage of the unwillingness of the people to negotiate and give the government a breathing space,' he said.In another development, the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) has carpeted the Lagos State governor, Mr Fashola, over his attacks on the deployment of soldiers in Lagos by President Goodluck Jonathan.The PDP, in a statement by the National Vice Chairman, South-West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, said it was sad that Fashola, who sent out securitymen andhoodlums to brutalise peaceful protesters last month in Lekki-Epe axis, could play politics with the president's decision to restore stability in Lagos.The PDP advised Fashola to be statesmanly in appreciating efforts at preventing a breakdown of law and order in Lagos State and other parts of the country.
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