Odi leaders berate Obasanjo over comments on Lekki shooting

Odi leaders berate Obasanjo over comments on Lekki shooting

- Leaders Odi have joined the conversation regarding the recent shooting incident in Lekki, Lagos

- The community leaders say they are irked by comments on Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on the incident

- The leaders of the Bayelsa community say Obasanjo is not in a situation to speak on such issues

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Some leaders in Odi community in Bayelsa state under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Odi have berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent comments on the shooting incident in Lekki.

The group stated that the former president is not in a situation to speak on the activities of a military invasion.

The group was reacting to the Odi massacre was carried out on November 20, 1999, by the Nigerian military on the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa state.

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The attack under the Obasanjo administration came in the context of an ongoing conflict in the Niger Delta over indigenous rights to oil resources and environmental protection.

Odi leaders berate Obasanjo over comments on Lekki shooting
Obasanjo recently made comments on the Lekki shooting incident. Photo credit: @RFI_En
Source: Twitter

Part of the statement read:

“The trauma that Odi went through under President Obasanjo is still fresh in living memory.
“The Nigerian Army moved in tanks, the Nigerian Navy moved in warships and the Nigerian Air Force was overheads.
“All the force of the Nigerian federation was unleashed on the sleepy and unarmed rural community of Odi. All because some young people dared to ask for their rights. It was a time no one in Odi wishes to recall.
“Definitely, there are some lectures that 'Professor' Obasanjo may not be qualified to deliver, especially a lecture on how to disperse a peaceful protest without violence.’’

The group stated that Obasanjo owes the people of Odi is an unreserved apology, adding that his recent comments are like adding salt to injury on their people.

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The statement was signed by several Odi leaders including the community's women leader; Ebimoweni Kemepade, deputy king of Odi; Chief Prenus Ogboin and CDC chairman, Odi, Goddey Niweigha.

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Meanwhile, a group, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his nationwide address to Nigerians over the escalating crisis in some parts of the country.

CSGGG convener, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, in a statement sent to journalists on Friday, October 23 described the president's address to the citizenry as reassuring.

He, however, called on the president to take a step further and probe the looting and arson witnessed in some parts of the country by thugs masquerading as protesters.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Jerrywright Ukwu avatar

Jerrywright Ukwu Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.