- Reduce Protest To One Or Three Days, Lawyer Urges Protesters
- Sanwo-Olu Addresses Lagosians, Says No To Repeat Of #EndSARS
- IGP Orders Cops To ‘Deal Decisively’ With Arsonists, Troublemakers
- Police Deactivate Explosive Device In Lagos, Call For Caution
- Courts Restrict Protests To Specific Areas In Lagos, Abuja, Others
Nigerians, today and for the next couple of days will take to the streets in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in a mother of all protests.
The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria is to kick against the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
Efforts by the Federal Government and stakeholders like traditional Rulers, religious and political leaders, security agencies and civil societies to avert the strike have not succeeded.
As the protests get underway, lawyer to some of the organisers of the protest, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has appealed to the protesters to reduce the protest to one day or a maximum of three days.
In a statement on Wednesday, on the eve of the protest, Adegboruwa urged the protesters to be orderly and peaceful as they go out on Thursday to protest in the locations already sent to the police.
While saluting the courage of the protesters, he called for engagement with the government on the issues raised to address the same and urged the protest organisers to set up different teams to engage with various government agents for immediate action.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said, “Even our forefathers in their graveyards have heard your voices loud and clear. The way and manner in which the government has been running helter-skelter since the announcement of the protests shows the moral victory of your campaigns and your struggles.
READ ALSO: August 1: Ogun State Students Backs Out From Planned Protest
“What we have done in the past few days is to facilitate dialogue with the law enforcement and security agencies. The insistence by the Inspector-General of Police of ‘credible intelligence’ with plans for violence is a confirmation of the desperation of the government to abort the protests by sponsoring hooligans and thugs to disrupt the protests. This is currently ongoing in many parts of Lagos State.”
“I therefore appeal that the protests be orderly and peaceful and conducted in the locations you have already sent to the police.
“Also, let the days of the protests be reduced to one day or the maximum three days and thereafter be suspended. Let your demands be made known to the government and then give time to address them.
“I have no doubt that you have the capacity to prosecute the protests as intended and that you have the support and prayers of the majority of our people, in all your actions. But let us give room for more dialogue. I offer to join you in this, anytime.
“I make this appeal in the interest of peace, progress and tranquillity of our dear nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has urged residents of the state to reflect on the damages caused by the 2020 #ENDSARS protest.
READ ALSO: August 1: Organisers Of Planned Protest Write IGP, Submit Details, Location
Speaking during a broadcast on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said some of the narratives fuelling the protest suggest that the planned demonstration is an opportunity for a change of government.
“It is pertinent to ask, is protest the practical catalyst for progress the nation requires at this time? Will such a protest suddenly ensure that all of our challenges disappear in ten days?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“Will the protest suddenly ensure the prices of foodstuff drop by the 11th day? Will shutting down the economy for 10 days inspire the economic growth we earnestly desire?
“I hold the strong view that a protest at this time will do none of these things for us as a nation. Rather, it would roll back the modest gains that we have made in various facets of our socio-economic life as a people.”
The Lagos governor said Nigerians need to be patient for the benefits of the economic policies initiated by Tinubu.
“Why then should there be a protest? All that we require now is to be patient for the benefits of the economic recovery policies to blossom,” Sanwo-Olu said.
READ ALSO: Protest: Stakeholders Assure Users of Normal Operations In Apapa Port
“Protests can never achieve in 10 days what carefully crafted economic reforms can achieve in a matter of weeks and months. More than ever before, our nation is blessed with a courageous leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
“Let me assure you that Nigeria is headed in the right direction, and the benefits of these hard reforms will percolate to all.”
Sanwo-Olu said the state is yet to recover from the destruction of properties that trailed the EndSARS protest.
“I appeal to you all that we reflect on our past experiences during the tragic events of the EndSARS protest in 2020. What began as a peaceful demonstration was, unfortunately, hijacked by elements with devilish intentions,” he said.
“They unleashed an unprecedented war on our state. We saw the destruction of valuable properties, the disruption of businesses, and sadly, the loss of lives in several parts of our dear state.
“These events left deep scars on our state and hurt our psyche. We are yet to fully recover from the mindless destruction of some symbols of our rich and enviable heritage: the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, the oldest and most recognisable court building in Nigeria built in the early 1860s, and 15 other court buildings. Over 45 police stations were set ablaze, 12 local government offices burnt, 7 fire stations burnt, the forensic centre that was the best in West Africa, the iconic City Hall, the secretariat of the oldest local government in Nigeria, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters, and traditional rulers’ palaces. They were all destroyed.
“So were several bank facilities, malls, shops, offices, hundreds of brand-new BRT buses, and several other public assets. No true Lagosian or friend of Lagos will encourage us to go this route again.
“That is not who we are; that is not our way, and that is not our style.”
Fellow Lagosians, we must remember that our shared goal is a peaceful and prosperous Lagos. The consequences of unrest are not just measured in the damage to property or disruptions to daily life; they are also felt in the loss of confidence, the fear instilled in our communities, tourists, and foreign investors, and the setback to our economic and social progress.
In an indication that the police would not fold it’s hands and watch, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed his men across the country to “deal decisively” with arsonists and troublemakers.
In a statement he personally signed on the eve of the nationwide protests, the police boss said the organisers of the planned demonstrations failed to furnish the police with the details of the protests including the names of intending participants, routes of rallies, among others.
The IGP said “the name given to the movement — ‘Take It Back Movement’ has far-reaching undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal connotations”.
He said intelligence revealed that the protests are aimed at unleashing mayhem on the polity and innocent citizens.
Egbetokun said the police won’t fold their arms and watch a degeneration of the situation into a “state of anomy”.
He put all police formations across the country on alert to protect innocent lives and properties from attack and destruction.
“All officers and men of the Nigeria Police are hereby directed to act and deal decisively with any act of arson, intimidation or harassment of any citizen, threat to lives and properties, breach of peace and any act of criminality that may arise or flow from the planned protest in any part of the country.
“Perpetrators of any crime will be arrested and promptly prosecuted,” he said.
In a worrisome development, the Lagos State Police Command said its anti-bomb squad had deactivated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
It was deactivated in the, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ikeja area of the state.
This development was confirmed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer in a statement posted on X late on Wednesday while calling on the citizens to remain vigilant.
“Following a recent incident involving the discovery and successful detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on 31st July, 2024, by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to alert all citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or objects to the nearest police station.
“All members of the public are urged to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings, reporting any unusual or suspicious behaviour. Where one encounters an unfamiliar or suspicious object, please do not touch or move it. Rather, keep a safe distance and immediately inform the Police.
The Nigeria Police reiterates that its foremost responsibility is to protect the lives and property of our citizens. While the Nigeria Police Force is working tirelessly to investigate further the source of the bearers of the IED planted in Lagos, dismantle their plans and apprehend those involved, the cooperation of well-meaning members of the public is vital in these critical times.
It’s pertinent to state that the intentions of the criminally minded individuals, who acted like terrorists for planting the IEDs at that strategic location, were purely to destroy houses, facilities and innocent citizens who may transverse along the route where the items were recovered. It is not out of point, however, to be vigilant to detect such unusual packages or parcels in our vicinity to avert any ugly incidences” he stated.
In another development, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court has restricted protesters of the nationwide protest slated for August 1 to the MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja.
Sylvanus Oriji, the presiding judge, gave the order on Wednesday while ruling on an ex parte motion brought by Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT.
In the ex parte application argued by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, the FCT minister asked the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the first five defendants/respondents and other protesters from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT between August 1-10, 2024.
Similarly, the protest has been restricted to the Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu in Lagos State.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare granted the order of pre-emptive remedy by way of an interim injunction to restrict the defendants from converging and carrying out the proposed protests in Lagos from Aug 1-10th except in the two approved locations from 8 am to 6 pm.
Similar restrictions have been put in place in other parts of the country.
