The Lagos State Police Command has banned public protests in Lagos,
declaring that the demonstration planned for tomorrow by a group of
activists would not be allowed to hold.
On Thursday, the police tear-gassed Nigeria’s foremost constitutional
lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, ex-Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu,
and the Nigeria Action Coalition (NAC) chieftain, Dr. Tunji
Braithwaite, among several others during a peaceful protest against the
deployment of soldiers in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, Thursday banned
the rally planned by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) for the Gani Fawehinmi
Freedom Park, Ojota.
Spearheaded by the Convener of SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the rally was
supposed to be a victory march in commemoration of the success of the
five-day peaceful protests held at the Park last week.
N/E gathered that the group had written to the state police command for permission to hold the rally.
Alkali turned down their request on the ground that the security situation in the state was not conducive for the gathering of a large number of people.
Alkali turned down their request on the ground that the security situation in the state was not conducive for the gathering of a large number of people.
The group had already sought and secured the consent and written
approval from the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to hold the
rally at the park.
Thursday’s protest by eminent Nigerians, which kicked off at the Lagos
State House of Assembly Complex at exactly 10:30am, was abruptly halted
by the police officers led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (in-charge
of operations), Mr. Tunde Sobulo, opposite Eleganza Industries along
Mobolaji Johnson Road, Alausa, while a detachment of the security
operatives was positioned at the 7UP junction, shooting canisters of
teargas at the protesters.
During the operation by Sobulo, Chairman of the Committee for
Protection of the People’s Mandate, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi, was seriously
affected and consequently fainted owing to the effect of the teargas.
Fearing further attacks, the protesters, who were led by 83-year-old
Nwabueze, unwillingly changed their course and headed towards Lagos
State Secretariat, marching peacefully and calling for the immediate
withdrawal of troops from Lagos streets and convocation of sovereign
national conference to chart a new course for Nigeria.
At the House of Assembly, the protesters were received by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo.
Before the protest took off at the Assembly Complex, Sobulo had tried in vain to dissuade the protesters, who were heading to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, on the premise that the venue was not safe for them.
Before the protest took off at the Assembly Complex, Sobulo had tried in vain to dissuade the protesters, who were heading to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, on the premise that the venue was not safe for them.
Addressing the protesters, Sobulo said the state Police Command could
not guarantee their protection and safety if the protest continued.
He said: “The police are in support of the protest but you cannot go
there now because it is not safe there. I cannot predict what will
happen at Ojota. For now, you have registered your grievances. The
government has done what it is believed should be done. Status quo must
be adhered to and must be respected.”
While Nwabueze left the scene after the protesters were tear-gassed,
Braithwaite expressed profound concern about the manner the police
officers prevented them from exercising their constitutional rights.
He said the police were trying to criminalise decent citizens of the country.
“Let the world see what is happening to the citizens of this country.
Nigeria is a country that has responsible citizens being governed by
irresponsible citizens.
“This is just a peaceful protest that is guaranteed under the
constitution of the country. The police intended to turn it into a
violent crackdown. They will not succeed. We are on the right path.
These are decent citizens who are being criminalised by people whom
their way to the office we know much about,” he said.
But Braithwaite, chairman of the defunct Nigeria Advanced Party (NAP),
said the attack by the police would not intimidate them, adding: “If
they thought the shooting of canisters will intimidate us, they are
joking. It has hardened our resolve.”
Speaking before the protesters started marching, Nwabueze cleared the
air that the protest was not an attempt “to bring anarchy into the
country, but express the need to bring about a new Nigeria”.
He explained that the protesters were canvassing the need “to cleanse
this country of all ill activities. Every aspect of life and
administration of government in Nigeria is rotten. We thought that the
strike called by NLC and TUC was the best opportunity for Nigerians to
register their grievances”.
“It is historic meeting. It is the beginning of events to come. I will
like to call it the beginning of a revolution to come. We thought that
the strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade
Union Congress (TUC) was the best opportunity for Nigerians to register
their grievances.
“When all this started, we thought we were working together. But they
compromised 180 million Nigerians. What they did should not be looked at
as disappointment but should provoke anger that will galvanise us all
to action. We have a challenge before us to cleanse rottenness from the
country. All this require the mobilisation of all sectors of the
country. I will write series of papers to challenge all the illicit acts
of the government,” he said.
The constitutional lawyer therefore called for a national sovereign
conference, stating that if the National Assembly failed to convene it
as demanded, “we will carry it out ourselves”.
In his address, Kalu said the major objective of the movement was to
set up a people-oriented constitution, which he said, was required “to
protect the right of over 180 million Nigerians wherever they are across
the world”.
The ex-minister further explained that “governance is about people.
What we are doing is in the interest of everybody and not in the
interest of any individual. We are not here to riot or disturb the peace
of this country. This is how every nation that is great, achieve what
they are enjoying today”.
Other Nigerians at the protest included Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmad of
Ansar-Ur-Deen Society of Nigeria, Mr. Isiak Akintola of Muslim Rights
Concern and Mr. Wale Okunniyi of Pro-National Conference among others.
Pro-democracy groups such as: Enough is Enough, Occupy Nigeria, Joint Action Forum, MKO June 12 Movement, Patriotic Front Movement, United Action for Democracy and Conference of Islamic Organisation were represented at the protest.
When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the actions of
the policemen were appropriate and within the ambits of the law.
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It's a big shame that the governor of a state does not have control over the police in his state
ReplyDeletethey are missing the point too much sentiments and less sense - all these marches are the disappointed folks who wanted to misdirect the labour struggle.
ReplyDeleteYou can see the Nigerian situation; Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The government that cannot address the Boko Harram incessant attacks on innocent citizens can monster muscles on intelectuals seeking purposeful direction for the country.
ReplyDeleteHow will the country move ahead if the government mobilized forces against eminent personalities like Prof Nwabueze, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu and Tunji Braithwaith?
What has Jonathan and his team achieved for this country comparable to these elder statesmen?
Intellectuals my foot! They were all there before: Ben Nwabueze, Kalu Idika Kalu etc, what can there point at today that distinguises them from all the other leaders past and present? If they have let them lay it on the table before going to protest against the action or inactions of other people. We live in a country where people suddenly become angels after leaving public life. Femi Fani Kayode was here the other day talking bullshit because he is no longer in position to loot.
ReplyDelete