Lagos State Government has released the White Paper on the #EndSARS Panel of Inquiry report.
In the report, the state government said that out of the 32 recommendations made by the panel, it has accepted 11 and rejected one.
The document also says 14 of the recommendations fall outside the powers of the state and will consequently be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.
A leaked version of the report had indicted the Nigerian Army and the Lagos state government in the killing of unarmed protesters and a subsequent cover-up of the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.
But after the panel submitted its findings to Governor Sanwo-Olu, set up a four-member committee led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) to raise the White Paper on the reports submitted by the panel.
At a press briefing earlier today, the Governor said the leakage was “regrettable”.
“While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorized version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened,” he added.
The governor, however, assured Lagosians that his administration remains committed to justice and truth.
Speaking further, he announced that he had initiated a peace walk as part of efforts to ensure harmony in the state.
“To quicken recovery and engender a better understanding, I will lead ‘A Walk for Peace’ in December to herald the healing of the land.
“I have extended an open invitation to the youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media, as well as other stakeholders to join me in this peace walk,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statewide broadcast in Ikeja, Lagos, said while he commended the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, “it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorised version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened.
“The heated exchanges among various shades of opinion on the report have unfortunately put us all at the risk of missing the larger picture; the fact that what we all seek in common is a land in which we are all safe and secure, law enforcement agents are trusted, and justice is guaranteed for all.
“We have no intention to engage in histrionics or further inflame passion on a matter that has generated intense interest and controversy nationally and internationally. Our decisions and actions will be based entirely on the law, the weight of evidence, and unblemished respect for the truth.”
Sanwo-Olu added that in times like these, with anger and animosity too quick and fast at hand, it is easy to hide behind own prejudices, treating them as deeper truths instead of the superficial lies they were.
He said it was far too easy to take sides and choose emotion over fact, even when the truth is to be found in shades of nuance.
“It is easy to choose darkness over light; to take perverse delight in playing unhelpful games of cynicism and suspicion; to cling to beliefs that do not carry the weight of verifiable evidence.
“To become a champion of prejudice is to own a fleeting and false victory. It is a victory of rancor over reason, of vengeance over justice, of anger over compassion. Today, I stand before you to declare that I reject this path; and I invite you all to do same.
“The choice confronting us today is between restoring greater harmony or doing greater harm. I choose harmony over harm. As your Governor, it is my task to explain why all Lagosians should join me on this path that promises a more beneficial future.”
The Governor said the State currently faced the hard choice of restoring harmony or doing itself a great harm, urging residents to join his administration in strengthening harmony and put the State on the path of peace.