At this point, it should come as no surprise that politicians like to dance for the gallery. The Lagos State Governor, Sanwo Olu has certainly proven to be no different.
The photos taken by his media team during the #ENDSARS protests on the 12th of October clearly tell a different story than the one that was witnessed by the masses present at the protest grounds at Lekki Toll Gate.
People report that he was literally boo-ed away from the protest grounds, but the media team somehow seemed to make it look like the people were hailing him.
Talk about well-curated falsehoods!
In the video archives, Lekki Protesters clearly chant for Sanwo Olu to leave and that it’s Buhari they want to see.
The unimpressed crowd even threw water at him while demanding for Buhari to come and address them.
It was obvious that the media intended to push a narrative that would make Sanwo Olu look good to the rest of the unsuspecting older generation.
Luckily, social media had afforded us the luxury to know better.
Meanwhile, the people further questioned the audacity of Sanwo Olu to try to pacify them at the protest grounds, while the killings were simultaneously going on at Surulere.
The utter AUDACITY of this man!
Especially seeing as Sanwo Olu came to the Lekki toll gate all the way from Marina when it would obviously have cost him less time to get to Surulere. I suppose he had to come to where the pocket was hurting most.
He certainly continued with the agenda when he showed up again at the #ENDSARS Alausa protests on the 13th of October.
Protesters observed that he was clearly using photography to try to exploit the situation. So that perhaps years from now, people will see the images and think he was leading some sort of revolution.
This is a typical agenda setting 101. Because literally 10 seconds before this picture was taken, he was clearly subbed by the crowd with the official Shut Up anthem; Davido’s FEM:
Onsite protesters record this as our Model of a Governor doing the walk of shame. As he was said to have literally walked through the crowd, proceeded for a further 10 meters to pose for the pictures and subsequently turned back to leave.
What’s even more puzzling is we thought he said he was going to be at Abuja? Why was he here doing a photoshoot when he hadn't sent our demands to Buhari?
We suspect he wanted to find pictures to use to campaign for a second term.
Weyrey truly dey disguise for these streets oh.
Luckily though, 2023 will come and we will be ready for him.
Side note: Also, whoever is taking Sanwo's pictures, how does it feel to have sold your soul?
I think photographers need to understand that sometimes it’s not about just taking photos of politicians. In the process, you might be helping them manipulate narratives for their selfish reasons.
I mean, he sure made good use of the photos by sending propaganda videos to our dear parents on WhatsApp.
My advice? People need to start ruining the photos if and when he is present. We should make signs saying " SANWO OLU DEY USE US FOR PHOTOSHOOT”, or if we aren't careful it may end up looking something like this:
But anyway, I guess that’s why we are here. So years from now, you will be the one to tell the stories and all will be as it was.