Notwithstanding the deluge of appeals for the shelving of the planned 10-day hunger protest scheduled to begin August 1, organisers appear hell bent to carry on, but with an assurance that the exercise would be peaceful and hitch-free.
In line with this and on the request of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, they have forwarded to the Force Headquarters, some of the venues where participants are expected to converge, beginning Thursday.
Attorney to the organisers, Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, who announced this Tuesday in a reply to police’ request for the venues, also urged the IGP to avail them of the contacts of the DIGs, AIGs and the CPs deployed to give protection to the protesters.
The Ondo state Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, had asked organisers of the planned protest in the state to provide information about its location to the state police command before the commencement date.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, had, Saturday, quoted Oladipo as saying the directive was in line with the instruction from the IGP, for proper security arrangements and ensure a peaceful demonstration.
…Police raise concerns
However, the Yobe state Police command has expressed concern over the protest scheduled for Yobe, saying Boko Haram insurgents are strategising to infiltrate the procession.
Yobe is one of the eight states listed by the organisers.
But, expressing worry in a statement, Tuesday, the spokesman of the command, Dungus Abdulkarim, said intelligence received by the command indicated that foreign mercenaries had been engaged to destroy lives and property during the protest.
Abdulkarim, a deputy superintendent of police, therefore called on individuals planning to participate in the protest to exercise caution.
“As Yobe state recovers from insurgency, the Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, acknowledges citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly.
“While we alert citizens to sinister motives, even peaceful protests at this time may be ill-timed.
“Recent insurgency activities in Gujba LGA, including an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion, have raised concerns.
“We are unprepared to face additional security challenges,” he said, and warned that criminals trying to hide under the protest to destabilise the state would face the wrath of the law.
For a hitch-free protest, the protesters are required to indicate proposed protest routes and assembly points.
The spokesman said they should also state the expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of leaders and organisers and measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements.
“By providing this information, we can deploy adequate personnel and resources; designate specific routes and areas, establish clear communication channels, and minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or criminal activity
“We encourage protesters to cooperate with the Police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly.
“We are committed to working with all to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order,” he added. (NAN)
…Prisons as ‘red zones’
And also as a precautionary measure, the federal government Tuesday declared all its 256 custodial centres (prisons) across the country as “red zones”, whose sanctity must not be violated under any guise.
Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa, who gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja, said: “In view of the purported national protest scheduled to hold on the first day of August 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the public that the Custodial Centres have been designated as red zones; therefore, any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever, should steer clear”, the CGC said in the statement signed on his behalf by Service Spokesman, ACC Abubakar Danlami Umar.
“Furthermore, the Service wishes to enjoin the public that Custodial and Non-custodial Centres are critical national assets which are germane to public safety as well as national security.
“Tampering with or attacking them will lead to breakdown of law and order, and further exacerbate the security of the society in general.”
“The Service strongly advises all members of the public to join hands with the Service to ensure the protection of correctional facilities. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that no correctional facility is defiled.
“The Ministry of Interior Joint Taskforce (MOIJTF) has been activated to provide extra security in and around custodial facilities nationwide.
“The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa FICMC, MFR, mni, appreciates the continuous cooperation of members of the public in ensuring peace and tranquillity in and around correctional centres nationwide. The public is also advised to report any suspicious plan or movement to our email: [email protected] or to our official website: www.corrections.gov.ng or call 09060004598 or 08075050006 directly,” the statement added.
…Convergence centres
Meanwhile, Adegboruwa listed Eagle Square in Abuja and Alausa Park in Lagos as some of the designated points of the protest.
Others are opposite Wema Bank, Akpakpava Lane, Benin City, Opposite School of Agric, Bauchi, along Tafawa Balewa Road, Bauchi, Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan, and Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe state.
The rest are Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium in Rivers state and Freedom Park, Osogbo in Osun state.
The letter, personally signed by him and sent the IGP, was titled “RE: NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS/RALLIES/PROCESSIONS AND REQUEST FOR POLICE COVERAGE”
It read: “We act as solicitors to the TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT, and refer to our letter on the above subject-matter dated July 26, 2024 and your response thereto dated July 29, 2024, Ref. CJ:2400/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.1/10, which we have passed to our Client with instructions to respond thereto as follows.
“Our Client acknowledges the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police towards complying with extant legislations granting citizens the right to hold public meetings, public rallies and public processions and the lawful discharge of the obligations placed upon the police to provide adequate coverage and protection at the venues.
“We shall be glad to have the contact details of the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, and the Commissioners of Police designated to cover the said public meetings, public rallies and public processions, to ensure a peaceful and crisis-free outing.
“Please find below the details of SOME of the points of convergence for the said public meetings, rallies and processions.
“1. ABUJA: Eagle’s Square, by the Secretariat, FCT, Abuja.
“2. LAGOS: Alausa Park by the Secretariat, Ikeja.
“3. BENIN: Opposite Wema Bank, Akpakpava Lane, Benin City.
“4. BAUCHI: Opposite School of Agric, Bauchi, along Tafawa Balewa Road.
“5. IBADAN: Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan.
“6. YOBE: Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State.
“7. RIVERS: Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium.
“8. OSHOGBO: Freedom Park, Osogbo.
“We shall update you with further details in the course of time, hoping that the above information suffices for planning and strategy. We are delighted to attend the meeting with the Inspector-General of Police as requested. However, in order to achieve enlarged participation, we request that the said meeting be held virtually, in order to give room for all stakeholders to attend. Specifically, we will be led in the said meeting by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, the NBA, other lawyers and civil society organisations. We await the Zoom link for the said virtual meeting.
“While thanking you for your kind consideration and support, please accept the best assurances of our highest regards, always.”
…Lagos court restricts protests
In a related development, a Lagos state High Court has restricted those wishing to be part of the protest to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, and Peace Park in Ketu area of the state.
Giving the order Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare said this followed a preemptive exparte application filed by the state Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN.
The application had sought to maintain and secure public safety and prevent irreparable loss of lives and property in the state during the period of the protests.
Listed in the application as co-defendants are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take it Back Movement); Persons unknown and the Commissioner of Police in the state.
Moving the application, Pedro contended that as the Chief Law Officer of the State and having been privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, there is the need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent an irreparable loss of lives and property as witnessed during the EndSARS protest in 2020.
The AG submitted that the Police in the State do not have sufficient manpower to provide security support for the protesters who planned to protest in all the local government councils and public highways and other areas of public access in the State.
Pedro argued: “In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to stage public protest against government policies and actions but prevent unlawful destruction of lives and properties in the process, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces and locations in the State where citizens can meet and converge to protest or express their displeasure against government. The locations are Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park, Ketu, Lagos State.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the State for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the State and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage.
“An order of court is required in the circumstances so as to protect the fundamental rights of 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents to protest and other residents opposed to the protest to go about their lawful without harassment, disturbance and destruction of public buildings/properties.”
Consequent upon this, Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought in the application and held thus:
“AN ORDER OF PRE-EMPTIVE REMEDY by way of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them from converging and carrying out their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, procession and meetings in Lagos State from the 1-10″ August 1-10, 2024 excerpt in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings, to wit: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park Ketu Lagos from 8 .00 am to 6pm pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant.
“AN ORDER OF PRE-EMPTIVE REMEDY by way of interim preservative order is hereby granted directing the 6th Defendant to protect the fundamental rights of the 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents to freedom of association, peaceful public protest, procession and tallies in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings in Lagos State, To wit: Gani Fawehinm Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road Ojota, Lagos and Peace Park, Ketu Lagos from 8am to 6pm on August 1-10, 2024 pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant.
“AN ORDER OF PRE-EMPTIVE REMEDY by way of interim preservative order is hereby granted directing the 6th Defendant to provide security support and traffic management support to the 1st to 5th Defendants at the approved designated location for their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings in Lagos State, To wit: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park Ketu Lagos from 8am to 6pm on 1st -10% August, 2024 pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant.
“An Order of substituted service of the Order of this Court in this matter, the Memorandum of Claim/Letter of Claim and all other pre action protocols documents on the 1st- 5th Defendants/Respondents by Newspaper publication in a National daily to wit: any other widely read newspaper and the service shall be deemed as good and sufficient service on the Defendants/Respondents.”
…Be warned, protests didn’t end well for us, Kenyan Bishop tells Nigerian youth
An activist and Kenyan cleric, Bishop Wycliffe Khaemba, has cautioned Nigerian youth to learn from his country’s error of judgement during the protest that almost caused setbacks for the citizens.
“I urge you to learn from what has happened and is still occurring in Kenya,” the cleric, who has been into activism for 28 years, said in a statement Tuesday.
“We allowed ourselves to be led into violent protests and disturbances, thinking they would lead to a desired outcome. Unfortunately, they have resulted in an undesirable outcome,” it said.
The cleric, who heads the One Ministry Methodist, advised Nigerian youths to learn from their own experience as Kenyans, as the protests would only end up leaving the nation worse off.
“Tens of thousands of small and medium-scale enterprises have been destroyed along with major public infrastructure, and people’s lives have been turned upside down. The education of our next generation has been affected, and we are not even back at square one. We are farther back,” he recalled with sadness.
According to him, Kenyans were later to realise that the protests were funded by foreigners, who would never allow the Kenyan government or non-governmental institutions to interfere in their nations.
“My message to Nigeria is this: Do not wait to learn from your mistakes. Instead, learn from our error of judgment in Kenya.
“Those who are sponsoring these protests from abroad will not come and help you rebuild Lagos and Abuja after violent protesters destroy your cities. Instead, they will offer you cutthroat loans to keep you in bondage to them.
“So, please listen to the voice of reason and pursue dialogue rather than protests,” he counselled.