By Our reporters

LAGOS — Senator Gbenga Ashafa, religious leaders and human rights activist, Mr. Richard Akinnola, yesterday, condemned the deployment of soldiers on Lagos roads in the wake of protest by labour and civil society groups, saying there was no basis for the military presence in the state.

Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, argued that the constitution clearly specified the conditions and circumstances under which military deployment was necessary,  stressing that the  peaceful protest in Lagos State clearly did not fit into such conditions.

He also noted that the state governor, was neither informed nor consulted before such a defining decision was taken, adding: “This development reminds us all of the vagaries of the military and now being replicated under an ostensible democratic dispensation.”

It’s unacceptable, unwarranted  —NIREC

Similarly, religious leaders in Lagos have frowned at the deployment of soldiers to the streets in the state. Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the religious leaders  described the sudden deployment of military as totally unacceptable and unwarranted since the state was among the most peaceful in the country, even in the thick of protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.

The religious leaders in attendance included: Chief Imam, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahman Ahmad; Co-Chairman Christian, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council NIREC, Rev. Bernard Okodua, Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul-Hafiz Abou, co-Chairman Muslim, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC and Dr Saheed Timehin.

Okodua, queried the President for taking such a decision, noting that the people of the state were already being harassed and intimidated with the huge presence of the military on the streets of Lagos.

Okodua warned the Federal Government not to capitalise on the development to declare a state of emergency in the state. Ustaz Ahmad maintained that religious leaders in Lagos were opposed to the decision of the Federal Government.

…Akinnola too

Also, human rights activist, Akinnola, speaking in Lagos said soldiers were supposed to have been busy tackling the Boko Haram and not unarmed Nigerians, who were only protesting against the inhumane government policy.

Speaking in Lagos, he said: “I condemn the deployment of soldiers in its entirety because it shows failure of governance. For a government that cannot use the same soldiers to deal with Boko Haram, to now send soldiers against unarmed Nigerians, who are peacefully protesting, is a big shame.”