The Lagos State Police Command on Friday invited organizers of the October #EndBadGovernance protest to a stakeholders meeting, warning against excesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Commissioner of Police, Olarenwaju Ishola, at the meeting also assured Lagos residents of police presence during the planned protest, saying their motive would be to maintain security and order. .
“We are not going to prevent anyone from protesting, it is their legitimate right. We will protect everyone, so that criminals do not appropriate it,” he stated.
One of the organizers and national coordinator of the Right to Education Campaign, Hassan Soweto, who was part of Friday's meeting, also confirmed the commissioner's assurance to cooperate with the protesters. “They assured us of safety,” Soweto told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview.
Earlier on Friday, PREMIUM TIMES learned that some members of the organizing team of the planned protest were summoned by the police to attend the stakeholders meeting at the police command in Ikeja.
According to a source who requested anonymity, the organizers invited by the police included Soweto, Adeniji Adeboyega, Aishat Omolara and Isaac Obasi, among others.
Backstory
On Thursday, both Soweto and Francis Nwapa had attended a briefing in Lagos, announcing preparations for the October protest.
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At the briefing, which took place at the International Press Centre, Ogba area of Lagos, the duo gave reasons why the October protest must take place, saying that apart from high fuel prices, the alleged waste by the administration led by President Bola Tinubu has been “nonsense.” of the austerity measures preached by the government.
Organizers therefore announced that the October protest will be titled: “A Day of Survival” and urged Lagosians to join them in expressing their discontent with the programs and policies of the current administration.
Security agents warn of possible kidnapping
NAN reports that the police commissioner said the command would fulfill its mandate to ensure that no group or individual would be allowed to create chaos or destroy property in the state.
He said: “Protesters should not trample on other people's rights or disturb public peace. We will not tolerate any act of lawlessness or violence.
“Independence Day is a day of celebration, but some people want to use that day for another purpose. We, as security agencies, will do our best to ensure that we have good attendance for the independence celebration.
“Protesters should not bother people who want to celebrate.”
Ishola, however, said the planned protest would be limited to a single location in the state, noting that his men would enforce the court order restricting nationwide protests against economic hardship to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota. .
“Protesters must stay within the environment of what the law says, no other place in Lagos is approved,” he said.
SSS, others speak
NAN reports that the Director of the State Security Service in the state, Dapo Amao, said citizens had the right to protest or express their discontent against the government but it must be done in a civilized manner.
He said there was a need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums, who are out to violate law and order and cause destruction in the state.
“We will collaborate with other security agencies to ensure lives and property are protected. “We will provide a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and ensure that things do not get out of control,” he said.
According to him, protesters should not prevent residents from moving around without harassment, disruption and destruction of public peace,” he said.
Amao urged citizens to give the government time to fix things.
Also speaking, the State Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, Adedotun Keshinro, said that if there must be protest, it must be peaceful and must not affect the rights of others.
He appealed to stakeholders to spread the gospel that “security agencies will not tolerate any act of anarchy in the state.”
Meanwhile, Arewa and Ndigbo community leaders, traditional leaders, student union leaders, members of the Nigerian Labor Congress, traders among others in the state were also represented at the meeting.
Protesters to gather in Ikeja
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES after the meeting with security agencies, Soweto said planning for the protest would continue unhindered.
He said the protesters would gather at the Ikeja underbridge before moving to various destinations in Lagos.
READ ALSO: #EndBadGovernance: Organizers speak ahead of October 1 protest
“We will have a people's parliament at every junction in Lagos to discuss with the long-suffering Lagosians how government policies are affecting us and what needs to be done,” he said.
Soweto also expressed doubts about the security promised by the police.
“We are waiting to see if what he (the police commissioner) is saying will be reality, but at our level we will continue to mobilize,” said the activist.
Protest to end bad governance
The #TheEndBadGovernance protest that lasted 10 days in August across Nigeria was a call for the federal government to reduce the size and cost of governance, reducing prices of food, oil, housing and electricity; lower interest rates and control insecurity.
However, thugs took over protests in many northern cities.
Organizers said Nigeria's 64th birthday is not worth celebrating.
The group said that since President Tinubu came to power, he has imposed unprecedented hardship on millions of Nigerians and “pushed many into poverty and hardship.”