Buhari to Blinken: FG awaits #EndSARS panel report from states

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday explained why his administration would not speak on the report by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on EndSARS just yet, noting that government would allow the system to exhaust itself before making any pronouncement. 

Speaking while receiving Mr Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari said the Federal Government would wait for pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country. 

A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, quoted President Buhari as saying: “So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels. 

“We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. 

“We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.” 

On the recent removal of Nigeria from the list of countries violating religious freedom, which Blinken said was “based on facts,” President Buhari expressed the country’s appreciation, noting that there is freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith. 

He said education is a priority in the country, “because when you educate a people, there are certain levels they will not fall below.” 

President Buhari equally appreciated the United States of America for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism and for the training given to Nigerian military. 

“It’s helping us to stabilize the situation in the NorthEast, and we’ve made a lot of progress since 2015. 

“We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts,” he noted. 

On development of democratic ethos, President Buhari said Nigeria has adopted the American model, “hook, line, and sinker, with its term limits,” stating: “Those who attempted to breach it were disappointed, if not disgraced. You are even lucky if you have two terms. Others try hard, and don’t get it. The American model has been accepted by Nigerians as the best.” 

Mr Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian President earlier in the year said jocularly that it was now good to see him “mask to mask, hoping that we will soon see face to face.” 

He appreciated the contributions of President Buhari to protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland. Blinken said America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hoped for better partnerships, “so that the bad guys won’t get the good guys.” 

He described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action,” stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and expressed the hope that necessary reforms would be made. 

In a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama at the presidential villa, the US Secretary of State insisted the responses by Lagos State and the Federal Government must show accountability while the grievances of victims should be addressed. 

Blinken said, “We’re working with Nigeria to address security challenges, including those posed by Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa and other terrorist and extremist groups. 

“In meetings with the President with the Vice President, with the foreign minister, we discussed the importance of a comprehensive approach that builds effective security forces addresses the underlying drivers of extremism, and respects Nigerians basic human rights. 

“The United States is committed to helping Nigeria do that by continuing to invest in our security partnership, and the institutions that strengthen the rule of law, and that hold accountable those who commit human rights abuses, corruption and other acts that harm the Nigerian people. 

“By tackling these issues, we can help to address some of the problems that have been key drivers of insecurity. 

“To that end, let me say that we welcome the conclusion of the investigation by the independent inquiry established by the Lagos state government to look into the events that took place at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, in October of 2020, and this, of course, was amidst the EndSARS protest, including the killings and other alleged abuses by the security forces. 

“We anticipate and look to the state and the federal government’s response to the findings, and expect those to include steps that ensure accountability and address the grievances of the victims and their families.” 

He affirmed that the US will work with Nigeria to alleviate the sufferings of those affected conflicts and violence in Nigeria. In his remark, Onyeama called on the US government to review its visa application process in the country to alleviate the hardship of Nigerian applicants. 

Meanwhile, the minority caucus in the House of Representatives on Thursday challenged the Federal Government on the alleged massacre and the motives behind it. 

This came just as the caucus demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for lying to Nigerians that the alleged massacre never took place even in the face of damning evidence. 

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the minority leader of the House, Honourable Ndudi Elumelu, it noted that there were indeed killings at the Lekki Tollgate during the protest. 

The caucus declared that the Federal Government “has a lot of questions to answer regarding the killings”. 

It said: “The confirmation by the Lagos panel that there was indeed a massacre at the Lekki tollgate during the 2020 EndSARS protests in Lagos and that the APC government-controlled security forces carted away bodies and mopped up evidence places a huge burden on the Federal Government which had vehemently denied any killings. 

“The minority caucus is therefore apprehensive as to what furtive motive must have made the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who ought to know the truth, to rush to the media, ahead of the judicial panel, to insist that there were no killings at the Lekki tollgate, even in the face of testimonies of witnesses at the sad event. 

“Whereas the proclivity of the APC-led administration to lie to Nigerians on issues is legendary and known to all, our caucus is, however, shocked that the administration can lie in a matter that has to do with the gruesome killing of citizens, particularly our youths, and even attempt to provide official cover to the culprits.” 

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