Lekki shooting: Why didn’t you ask Buhari? Tinubu’s aide faults Atiku’s EndSARS question
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for calling for accountability regarding the October 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting. Olusegun questioned why Atiku failed to raise the issue during his visits to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in office at the time of the incident.
In a statement addressing Atiku’s remarks, Olusegun noted that the former vice president had visited Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on June 22, 2024, as well as at his retirement residence in Kaduna on April 11, 2025. “Those two opportunities presented you with chances to ask former President Buhari, who was president at the time of the Lekki Toll Gate protests, the questions you are now directing at President Tinubu,” Olusegun said.
He further implied that Atiku’s decision to pursue the issue six years after the event reflected a lack of political sincerity. “The fact that it took you six years to ask these questions is a testament to your insincerity and desperation to become President,” Olusegun stated.
Atiku had earlier on Tuesday reiterated his demand for answers concerning the shooting, which occurred during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. In a post on X, he posed a critical question: “Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?” Atiku alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to provide clarity on the incident and did not offer young Nigerians a brighter future. He also criticized President Tinubu’s past comments regarding the protesters, recalling the President’s remarks from October 2020 regarding the presence and conduct of those who suffered casualties.
In response, Olusegun emphasized that Tinubu himself was adversely affected by the unrest, claiming that his residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, was nearly destroyed, and that he and his staff had to seek safety during the protests. “In case your memory is failing you, sir, may I remind you that President Tinubu, who was an ordinary citizen in 2020, suffered perhaps more than anyone else during the protests,” Olusegun said.
Additionally, Olusegun challenged Atiku’s use of the term “Lekki Massacre,” suggesting that the legal establishment of a massacre has not yet been finalized. He argued that invoking such language for political gain during a complex national tragedy undermined the gravity of the event, which remains a contentious topic regarding accountability, casualties, and the events of that night.
Olusegun also accused Atiku of attempting to revive his economic recovery plan and dismissed his presidential aspirations, asserting that his recent comments were motivated by a desire to gain electoral advantage.
The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020, as young Nigerians mobilized to demand an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The events surrounding the Lekki Toll Gate shooting continue to generate public debate and controversy.
