Segun Ayinde.
Following the scarcity of naira, a fresh protest occurred yesterday in Sagamuarea of Ogun as irate youth destroyed and burnt two banks- Keystone and Union banks.
Standard Times Nigeria gathered thatviolent protest broke out in the area due to alleged stop of operation of the banks and their Automated Teller Machines(ATM) not dispensing cash since last week
A video shared on Monday revealed many customers watching as Keystone and union banks were set on fire with some angry youth holding planks in the demonstration
The protesters set bonfire on the major Sagamu-Benin expressway disrupting human and vehicular movement.
The Police Public Relation Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement said that the command said that nomalcyhad been in the areas as CP Frank Mbais personally leading police teams and some military men to the situation under control.
Oyeyemi added that not less than 30 suspects had been arrested in connection to the incident and had been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department while the police and military stays behind to prevent another attack.
In the meantime, Governor DaapoAbiodun has attributed the attack to the handwork of main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a promise to bring the perpetrators to book while urging the residents to remain calm.
The State government claimed that the protest over the new Naira scarcity was politically-motivated, leading to the attack of innocent persons and burning of bank buildings in the town.
A statement e-signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, titled, ‘The politically motivated protest in Sagamu’, alleged that disgruntled members of the opposition PDP and candidates were seen leading the demonstration.
“Early this morning, a politically motivated violent protest took place in Sagamu, during which innocent people were attacked while banks and public infrastructures were destroyed and razed down by fire . We were reliably informed that some disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration.
“While the protests were purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, the real intention of these elements became obvious with the involvement of known PDP members.
“It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two roads were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch. The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am. in the morning to 8.00pm in the evening without any violence, quarrels, or disagreements whatsoever.
“We believe strongly that it was the success of the APC rally of yesterday that got the feeble opposition PDP frustrated and therefore made their members embark on the mindless destruction of properties.
“The Governor of Ogun State, Prince DapoAbiodun, has been on top of the fallouts of the naira re-design issues. The Governor had visited the Central Bank headquarters in Abeokuta and some other commercial banks’ branches, made a state broadcast and empathize with the people with a reassurance that efforts are on to ameliorate the negative impacts of the controversial policy on the people. Ogun State is also one of the states that has taken the Federal Government to court on the naira swap policy.
“Attacks on innocent people and the destruction of private and public properties cannot solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation. Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannons to vent frustration.
“Rather, our people should exercise patience and be law abiding while waiting to cast their votes for the party that has stood by the populace even at this critical period,” he stated.
Somorin, however, added that arrests have been made by the Police and had immediately swung into investigation.
“Ogun State has been acknowledged as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria; and the government shall not fold its hands and allow the state to be defined by thuggery, violence, and arson. The full wrath of the law will be made to bear on the culprits, no matter who their sponsors are,” he stated
However, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Remo Federal Constituency, Bola Oluwole, faulted the claim by the state government, saying the APC was afraid of the popularity of the PDP.
Oluwole, in the statement titled, “Allegation of Masterminding Sagamu Protest is to Smear My Image – Hon Bola Oluwole”, says neither he nor his party instigated the violence.
He advised the APC-led government to address the situation rather than shift the blame to innocent Nigerians.
The Statement read,, “My attention has been drawn to a broadcast message circulating around that I am the mastermind of the violent protest in Sagamu Remo.
“This action is the handiwork of the opposition in the ruling party, APC, who were hellbent to destroy and smear my image.
“They are afraid of my growing popularity as we approach the elections on Saturday.
“I want to say it in strong terms that I am not in any way connected to the protest, Nigerians are only angered by the economic hardships in the country and their inability to access their hard-earned money and the fuel scarcity.
“I am a peace-loving person, a grassroots politician who has the love of his people at heart, I will never get myself involved in things that will destroy the peace and tranquility of my constituency.
“As of yesterday evening, our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, met with all National Assembly candidates to strategise for the election, so where would I have the chance to mobilise for the violent protest?”
He stated that he was condemning the attacks on the banks in its entirety and appealed to the youths to be patient and shun violent activities.
“I want to urge the general public and the people of my constituency to disregard the message and go about their daily activities in peace.”
