Power play: Tinubu alleges intimidation by military

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Tuesday raised an alarm that his Bourdillon, Ikoyi Lagos residence had been put under surveillance by men of the Nigerian Army. He alleged that the move was a ploy by the Federal Government to intimidate him through a show of strength, intimidation and possible harassment, but according to him, “I remain resolute in my advocacy and support for the rule of law”. However, investigations by Premium Times, an online news portal did not reveal such security presence around the vicinity of Tinubu’s home. The site noted that there were no signs of security forces when it visited Mr. Tinubu’s home Tuesday evening, save for an empty van belonging to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, parked outside the compound. An unarmed police officer sat at the gate, while the evening breeze gently rocked giant posters of Mr. Tinubu and that of his wife, Oluremi (who is seeking a second term at the Senate), stationed outside the fence. Premium Times kept watch outside Tinubu’s Ikoyi home between 5.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday. A bus filled with what looked like party supporters was parked outside the gate. A man seen outside Mr. Tinubu’s home however said he saw “just two army officers” earlier on Tuesday and not a truck filled with soldiers. He said the two personnel later left. The media officer to Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Fadare, had stated in a statement that, “for three straight days, the private residence of the national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, has been under surveillance by battle-ready and helmet-wearing soldiers. Numbering close to thirty and riding in three patrol vans and an army trucks stationed close to the entrance of the gate to Tinubu’s house along Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi, they have become a permanent feature. “The soldiers were first noticed on Sunday a few minutes to 11pm in an Army truck. They stationed about 500 meters away from Tinubu’s gate. Later they moved close to his gate as if making efforts to enter. The stern looking soldiers were around for hours on Sunday and returned on Monday to continue their surveillance. “Monday night about 10.45pm, they returned to the residence in two army vans and were there throughout the night. Some of the soldiers discharged from the van and walked back and forth in front of the house and around the house in what is clearly some casing effort. “This morning, (Tuesday) two vans from the army were stationed on both sides of the house along Bourdillon road, their missions shrouded in secrecy”, Fadare said.

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