…Lagos CP urges groups to stop planned Protest
…Nigerians are hungry, angry, stakeholders tell FG
Juliana Ebere Francis
Security Chiefs in Lagos State today 27th September 2024, had a tense meeting with stakeholders as tension heightens over the likelihood of a violent protest by hungry and angry Nigerians to mark October 1st, Nigeria’s Independent.
The security agencies received intel that there is a protest to mark the 1st of October.
The security chiefs were worried that the protest would likely turn violent and invited different groups, urging them to speak with their followers and not partake in such a
protest. If they must, they should not allow it to be hijacked by hoodlums.
The organisers of the planned protest and those who will participate were further urged to use the Freedom Park at Ojota as instructed by the court.
However, most of the stakeholders denied having such knowledge and stressed that they did not receive a signal or missive from any group concerning a protest earmarked for the 1st of October.
According to many of them, they would not partake in planned protests to mark Nigeria Independent Day. They, however, called on the Federal Government to stop attempting to curtail protesters, but should rather look towards checking hunger in the country and jettison anti-people’s policies.
They maintained that in a country where the political class have so much and the people have so little, it was only a matter of time before the people revolted.
It was also learned that messages had been sent to the organisers for engagement and conversation, but they allegedly had not responded.
The organisers are believed to be those behind the recently held #EndBadGovernance Protest, which lasted 10 days.
The current planned protest is tagged, “A Day of Survival.”
In a statement signed by Francis Nwapa and Hassan Soweto, the group said that the 1st of October Protest will take off from Ikeja at about 7:30 am.
Senior officers from different security agencies in Nigeria attended the power-packed meeting held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association Hall in GRA Oduduwa, Ikeja.
There are the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army,
Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Labour Congress, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigerian Bar Association, Religious groups, National Association of Nigerian Students, National Union Of Road Transport Workers, Hotelier, Eze-Idi-Igbo and Bankers, to mention but a few.
The meeting was led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Ishola Olanrewaju Olawale.
The CP said: “Although this meeting was short notice, we deemed fitting to meet to move the nation forward. The agenda is to focus on the impending protest planned for the 1st of October.
“The 1st of October is important to our history as a country. This meeting is to ensure that the Day is celebrated with funfair. But that day has been chosen by others to protest. But security agencies will do their best to ensure a large turnout.
“People should come out to celebrate and have a sense of belonging, everyone is entitled to celebrate Independence Day. We as security agencies will ensure that the rights of those who do not participate in the protest are upheld, are not trampled upon.
“We will not allow the conduct of protesters to affect the celebration. It will not be a day to force people to join what they do not want to. Exercising your right to protest, does not mean you should extend it to disturbing others.
“Freedom Park at Ojota is still there for you to express your feelings and opinions. No other places have been so assigned for protest.
“The 1st of October is a day we want to celebrate and be happy. Nobody has a right to convey anyone on a bus and get them into something they do not want.
“This protest is one too many. I urge the protesters to jettison what they want to do. However, if you must go on, I will have to protect them so that miscreates will not hijack it.”
The Director of DSS, Dapo Amao, said: “ I want to further assure Nigerians that there is synergy and collaboration to ensure that property and lives are well protected. We will continue to ensure a stable environment. It is no news that some people want to protest, but we want to make sure things do not go out of hand.
“People have a right to protest, but it should not go out of hand. Our information is miscreated want to use that opportunity created by the protest to cause anarchy.
“We urge Nigerians to give the government of the day. The government is coming up with policies.”
The NSCDC, Lagos State Command Commandant, Adedotun Sunday Keshinro, said that some weeks back, he and other security chiefs had sat in the same hall amidst tension as some planned the #EndBadGovernment Protest, deliberating on how to mitigate it.
He seized the opportunity to commend Lagos residents for how they conducted themselves, making the then protest to be peaceful.
“Threat, in the form of protest, in a day supposed to be celebration is sad. We want groups to go to their people and urge them to give the government time to put things in place. After darkness comes light, the days of the good are nearby. So many will want to celebrate, therefore we urge the protesters not to escalate things. But we shall continue to ensure lives and property are protected,” said Keshinro.
Professor Ishaq Akintola of MURIC opined that protesters who picked that special day of celebration were showing disrespect.
He added that the present situation of hardship is a global issue.
He added: “The government is doing everything possible. We need to listen and be patient. Those behind the last #EndBadgovernment protest promised that it would not be hijacked, but ended up being hijacked.
“Although it was peaceful in Lagos State. Those behind the last protest said it would be peaceful, but it was not. Protesters were waving the Russian flag and calling on the military to take over. We will not allow the military to take over. What is the business of the protesters calling on the military to take over? It is a comedy of error. Prisons were attacked and government infrastructure was burnt.
“People affected in the last protest are yet to get over their losses and we are attempting to go on another protest. This should not be happening on the 1st of October; it is a sacrilege.”
A member of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Abiodun, during his turn to speak, said his union had not received any signal about participating in the planned protest, he however, said: “Tell the political class that if things are going wrong, they should let the people know and do something about it; We can’t be having meeting always. The political class should have the courage to tell Nigerians what is wrong.
“For us to always have meetings, means something is fundamentally wrong. If security agents see protesters, they should protect and provide them with water.”
The chairperson of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Sessi Agnes Funmi applauded the former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade for being able to control the last #Endbadgovernment Protest.
She said times were difficult and that Nigerians were hungry and angry.
She said that NLC in Lagos was yet to receive a signal about any planned protest.
She gave a message to the security chiefs to take to the federal government.
She said: “Let those in the corridor of power know that Nigerians are not happy. We’ve seen and read how the political class spends money. Let the government understand the plights of Nigerians.
“The government should stop the anti-people policies; all voices should count. The government should invite stakeholders before making policies. In Nigeria, a few people are enjoying, using bulletproof cars, money everywhere and people are seeing and watching, naturally, people will begin agitation.
“You can’t continue to suppress the people, surely one day the people will revolt. For some people these days, feeding is difficult. Lagos State government is doing well, but they should engage the youths more.”
NANS Chairman, Lekan Alimi said that the security chiefs should talk to the government.
He noted: “To be candid, there’s a hunger in the land. We fill our bus with fuel of N70,000 just to get here. However, I don’t support the protest, not because I am a coward, but because after the protest, we will still come down to the round table for discussion. This is the era of scientific valuta.
“Students are no longer leaders of tomorrow, they are partners in progress. Let the government know that the people are not happy.”
Representing the NBA is Barrister Seyi, who said there is failure in every sphere of the country. This was also why he reiterated others’ disclosure that they were yet to receive any signal of a planned protest.
He urged the federal government to show sincerity in issues relating to Nigerians.
He said people are likely planning protests because there was nothing to celebrate concerning the 1st of October celebrations.
“Nobody can stop Nigerians from expressing their feelings. Tell our leaders that Nigerians are hungry. Soon the hungry will eat the rich. On our part at NBA, we will vehemently reject any protest!”