Two unidentified soldiers have criticized and insulted Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for directing the apprehension of their fellow soldier and three other motorcyclists who were caught driving against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
In two separate viral videos observed by our correspondent on Thursday, the soldiers appeared to be defending their colleague, expressing disapproval of Sanwo-Olu for referring to the soldier as “useless” in the presence of what he called “bastard civilians.”
PUNCH Metro reported that Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, instructed the arrest of a soldier and three motorcyclists for violating traffic rules on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
In a video that went viral, the governor was seen instructing his team to detain one of the motorcyclists claiming to be a soldier, stating his intention to lock him up.
Responding to the arrest, the first soldier, who believed his colleague had done nothing to warrant arrest, argued that the state governor had no authority to arrest a soldier, particularly in front of a military barracks.
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He asserted that soldiers were not subject to the control of any state governor but answerable to their senior officers.
He said, “Did I just hear your governor calling a soldier, a Lance Corporal, useless? A Lance Corporal…This man broke his arm, they fired at the man. There is iron in his hands.
“You are calling a soldier useless in front of those idiots, those bastard civilians. DSS was pushing a soldier. In any situation where you find yourself as a soldier, the Army only gives you five seconds to compose yourself, so after that, you must know how to reply to any attack or anything that comes your way.
“Because he is a governor, I know he (the arrested soldier) was shocked that the governor was arresting him. I know I am not perfect and I am not saying I am but in any situation I find myself, especially beside your barracks, nobody can arrest you. I repeat, nobody can arrest you because you have to stand your ground and nobody will slap you there.
“No DSS or police can slap you because you refuse to go. Why will you arrest me when there are IP and military police?
“Okay, will it be because I took one way beside my barracks? What if I just took the bike out to buy something? Do I have to take the long route because I want to buy something? Who does that? In which Army?”
He mentioned that the governor’s decision stemmed from the prevailing peace in Lagos, emphasizing that such a situation would be unlikely in the North-East, where he claimed to be located.
He said, “So, now, your governor has the guts to arrest and even call a soldier useless. To be sincere, Lagos has been experiencing too much peace. Let’s tell the truth, Lagos has been experiencing too much peace. Let us assume this happened in the North-East where I am, is it here the governor’s convoy that is taking one way will arrest a soldier for taking one way?
“You are there pursuing civilians, what if they get involved in an accident along the line?.. If the soldier said he is not going anywhere, nobody has the power to slap him. If the governor tries it, he knows he is already a bygone. The governor dare not slap a soldier.
In another video, a soldier criticized Sanwo-Olu for directing the arrest of his fellow soldier and three other motorcyclists who were driving against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
In a separate 59-second video, the soldier said, “Soldiers that suffer day and night. How much do they pay soldiers? I hear an iron was placed in the Lance Corporal’s hand because he was shot in the hand. How much do they pay soldiers? Calling a soldier useless? And you call yourself the governor but you are misbehaving up and down. Who are you, Governor Sanwo-Olu? When you want to do your dirty job, you will call soldiers. Go and check the Ojo Road, is it good?”
Upon contact with one of our journalists, Olabisi Ayeni, the spokesperson for the 81 Division Nigerian Army, informed PUNCH Metro that no details were currently available. Nevertheless, he assured that he would soon address the matter.
“There is no detail for now. When it is official, I will speak about the situation.” #Soldiers