Following the heavily criticized move by the police to stop a nationwide peaceful protest spearheaded by musician, Tuface Idibia, the Lagos state poli
Following the heavily criticized move by the police to stop a nationwide peaceful protest spearheaded by musician, Tuface Idibia, the Lagos state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has agreed to provide security for the February 6th protest that is slated to hold at the National Stadium, Lagos. After a meeting with the organizers of the rally, the Commissioner who spoke to newsmen said,
“We had a meeting with the protesters and we explained to them why we advised against the protest. A pro-government group wants to protest that same day and we don’t want a situation where there would be friction. We also don’t want hooligans to hijack the process and injure the protesters. After explaining to them, they said they will go back and discuss with others. They said if they decide to go ahead, they won’t demonstrate but would assemble at a point and read their demands. That notwithstanding, we have resolved to provide security for them. It is our responsibility and we won’t shy away from it. We will ensure trouble makers do not hijack the process.”
Similarly, Vice president Yemi Osinbajo says that the presidency can’t stop the February 6th nationwide protest. Speaking through his senior special assistant-media and publicity, Laolu Akande, who was a guest on Channels TV, Osinbajo said Nigerians have the right to protest as it is their fundamental human rights.
”Presidency is not going to stop people from expressing their fundamental human rights. People have the right to protest. Whoever they want to support or oppose is their right. Government is not in the business of countering any protest” he said.
The protest rally which is being planned to take place simultaneously in some major cities across the country, including Lagos State, Abuja and Asaba, is seen as an avenue provided by the organisers to enable Nigerians voice out their worries over hardship in the land. The Nigeria Labour Congress, the newly formed United Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have declared support for the planned protests and the right of the citizens to hold peaceful rallies.
