POLITICAL CRITICISM MUST NOT OVERRIDE CONSTITUTIONAL FACTS

The Tinubu Consolidation Movement finds it necessary to remind Nigerians that political criticism is legitimate, but the deliberate misrepresentation of facts cannot be justified in the name of opposition politics.

The question is straightforward: What credible evidence establishes that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was not President or Commander-in-Chief in October 2020, personally issued the military deployment or operational order at the centre of the EndSARS controversy?

Those making such allegations should present verifiable evidence rather than rely on assumptions, insinuations, social media narratives, or the political sentiments of the moment.

The Nigerian Armed Forces operate within an established chain of command. The question of who authorised the deployment of troops, who issued operational directives, and who bears responsibility for particular actions must be addressed through evidence and the findings of competent investigative bodies.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the Lekki incident made findings concerning the deployment and conduct of military personnel. Its report attributed the invitation of the military to the Lagos State Government through the governor before the Army deployed troops to the toll gate. These findings make it even more important to distinguish the documented sequence of events from allegations against individuals who have not been shown to have issued the orders in question.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL PROMINENCE AND MILITARY AUTHORITY

It is intellectually indefensible to assume that because an individual is influential within a political party, that individual automatically possesses the authority to command the military.

In October 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari occupied the office of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by contrast, was a prominent political figure and former governor of Lagos State, not the sitting President of Nigeria.

These are distinctions that any serious discussion of the EndSARS incident must recognise.

The Movement therefore challenges commentators, particularly those who present themselves as informed voices in national affairs, to engage with the constitutional framework and available documentary evidence before making sweeping allegations.

Opposition is not a licence to abandon logic. Political disagreement is not a substitute for proof. And an allegation does not become an established fact simply because it is repeated often enough.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW POLITICAL PROPAGANDA TO REPLACE EVIDENCE

The Tinubu Consolidation Movement recognises that the EndSARS protests remain a deeply emotional chapter in Nigeria’s recent history. The concerns about police brutality that motivated the protests deserve serious consideration, and the lives lost or affected deserve respect.

Our position is not that the questions surrounding the incident should be silenced. Rather, we insist that those questions must be addressed honestly, impartially, and on the strength of evidence.

We reject attempts to exploit the pain associated with EndSARS to manufacture personal culpability without establishing the relevant facts.

Equally, we caution supporters of the President against responding to provocation with insults or personal attacks. The strongest defence of any political position is a clear presentation of facts, sound reasoning, and a willingness to engage difficult questions responsibly.

Nigeria’s democracy will be better served when political actors across party lines embrace these principles.

OUR MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS

The Tinubu Consolidation Movement calls on Nigerians, especially young people who rely heavily on social media for political information, to exercise critical judgment before accepting or circulating politically charged claims.

Ask for evidence. Examine the timeline. Understand the offices held by the individuals involved. Distinguish between political influence, constitutional authority, operational command, and personal responsibility.

These distinctions are essential to an informed electorate.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s record in public life may be debated, scrutinised, and criticised like that of any democratic leader. However, such scrutiny must be grounded in facts rather than allegations that disregard the political and constitutional circumstances of the period under discussion.

Our position is clear: No individual should be condemned on the basis of an unsubstantiated allegation, and no political party should be permitted to turn a national tragedy into an instrument of misinformation.

The Tinubu Consolidation Movement remains committed to constructive political engagement, responsible public discourse, national unity, and the consolidation of democratic governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

We urge Nigerians to reject misinformation, demand accountability from all public institutions, and place truth above partisan sentiment.

Facts must prevail. Evidence must matter. Nigeria must come first.

SIGNED:
TINUBU CONSOLIDATION MOVEMENT (TCM)

Media and Publicity Directorate.