Controversy as Army refutes alleged surveillance on Tinubu’s residence

Controversy as Army refutes alleged surveillance on Tinubu’s residence

A fresh controversy may be brewing over alleged military surveillance
in the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the National Leader of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Lagos State
Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday decried the “intimidation” by a
government that lays claims to democratic credentials.

However, the Army yesterday refuted the allegation.

Fashola, who spoke at the APC gubernatorial campaign rally at Iyana-
Ejigbo in Oshodi-Isolo council area, said that the President Goodluck
Jonathan-led Federal Government had resorted to intimidation of
opposition and frustration of electoral organisation in a bid to hang-on
to power.

According to him: “The PDP-led government is a government that lies
with everything.

“They have removed security from Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC). Now they are deploying soldiers to Tinubu’s
house. We will not be intimidated. Our votes will speak for us,”
Fashola said.

The governor added that when President Jonathan was “begging” for
our votes in 2011 he did not use soldiers. “He was begging us. He was
saying he had no shoes. After we helped him, what has he been doing
is to inflict pains on us.”

Also, Tinubu said that he would not be intimidated by this show of
strength, intimidation and possible harassment.

Tinubu in a statement said: “I remain resolute in my advocacy and
support for the rule of law. Jonathan’s government has through the
service chiefs staged a coup against Nigerians and the Constitution
and now wants to silence his critics.

“I will not be muzzled through the barrel of the gun. The guns and
bullets they should use to defeat Boko Haram are now being turned
against the opposition and innocent Nigerians,” he said.

The former governor added that he remained resolute and committed
to the path of change in Nigeria and the liberating manifesto of the
APC.

The Guardian gathered that Tinubu’s Ikoyi residence had been under
surveillance by soldiers for three nights.

Although they were not there as of the time of filing this report, it was
gathered from residents that the soldiers, about 30, in three patrol
vans and an army truck were usually stationed close to the entrance
of Tinubu’s residence anytime from 10 p.m.

Tinubu’s Media Office stated that the soldiers were first noticed on
Sunday a few minutes before 11 p.m. in an army truck.

“They stationed about 500 metres away from Tinubu’s gate. Later they
moved close to his gate as if making efforts to enter. The stern -
looking soldiers were around for hours on Sunday and returned on
Monday to continue their surveillance.

“Monday night about 10.45 p.m., they returned to the residence in two
army vans and were there throughout the night. Some of the soldiers
discharged from the van and walked back and forth in front of the
house and around the house in what is clearly showcasing effort.

“This morning (yesterday), two vans from the army were stationed on
both sides of the house along Bourdillon Road, their missions shrouded
in secrecy,” the statement reads.

The soldiers with their trucks and vans are allegedly stationed close to
the entrance of the gate to Tinubu’s house along Bourdillon Road in
Ikoyi.

In his reaction, the APC Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed told The
Guardian, “We are not surprised; this is the beginning of the real
militarisation of this politics and the use of the military to hound
members of the opposition to either surrender or get crushed.

The question that follows is are we in democracy or under military
rule?”

However, the Assistant Director of Public Relations, 81 Division of the
Nigerian Army, Lagos, Col. Mustapher Anka dismissed the allegation
when The Guardian sent him a text message, demanding to know if
indeed Tinubu’s house had been placed under surveillance as alleged.

Anka called, saying that he was not aware of such situation, and that
he would send one of his men to the place.

Few hours thereafter, he called saying, “It is a lie. No soldier was
posted to Tinubu’s house. I tell you it is a mere rumour and should not
be believed.”

– Guardian.