Protest: Police talk tough; organisers allege intimidation

Organisers of today’s protest against hardship and bad governance, yesterday, alleged that the Federal Government and the Police were intimidating them but vowed to proceed with the action as the Police said protest or procession would not be allowed to take place in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Nobody is harassing organisers – FG

However, the Federal Government denied organisers’ allegations that they were being harassed and intimidated. Still, it said there was no need for the protest while asking the organisers to see opportunity in the various government policies and use them to better their lives.

In a chat with Vanguard, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said the Federal Government will not join issues with anybody on the allegation but insisted that there is no need for the protest since the government is working hard to turn things around for the country.

“The government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring peace, unity and prosperity for all,” he added.

IGP orders water-tight security

This came as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, also yesterday ordered water-tight security nationwide to create a safe and conducive environment for citizens.

The order was contained in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement said the IGP ordered the deployment of adequate human and tactical resources to enable a maximum level of security and a seamless celebration of Independence Day.

According to the Force PRO, the Police, in synergy with other security agencies, will fortify various designated event venues and major highways across the country, to forestall any threats to lives and property as well as the celebration.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, AIG Benneth Igweh, declared that no form of protest or procession from any group will be allowed in Abuja because the FCT command didn’t receive an application for protest from any group.

Besides, he said the Police command in FCT has intelligence that some groups were planning to go against the law by embarking on unauthorized protests in the FCT.

Indeed, ahead of the Independence Day celebration, the FCT police command has strategically deployed personnel and equipment throughout Abuja.

Despite the Police stance and alleged intimidation, the convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Mr Omoyele Sowore, yesterday, insisted that there is no going back on today’s protest because only a revolution would save the country.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations, CSOs, in Edo State were divided on the issue and protest coordinators across the 19 northern states pulled out on grounds that organisers had not done enough to provide security for protesters. This was as a coalition of CSOs in Kaduna kicking against the nationwide planned action.

Also, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, urged miscreants and those planning to protest to stay away from port formations to avoid unpleasant consequences.

No protest in Abuja

AIG Igweh said: “October 1 is our independence day and the Federal Government has declared a public holiday for all Nigerians to celebrate. We are ready to protect you. We are ready to guarantee your protection to celebrate as long as you act within the ambit of the law.

“We have a lot of intelligence at our disposal that some miscreants, including members of the proscribed Islamic Movements of Nigeria, IMN (Shiites), want to take to the streets to protest. This is not allowed because they have been proscribed; they don’t have the right to assemble. They don’t have the right of procession.

“Tomorrow, (today), anybody or group that wants to flout the law, we will be ready for them.”

Reminded that some groups planning to embark on the protest said they had submitted an application for peaceful/guided protest to the office of the IGP, he said: “The Police command in FCT has not received any letter or application for any protest march. So, protesters should stay away from Abuja.”

On whether protest is no longer allowed, as enshrined in the constitution, AIG Igweh said: “Protest is allowed if it is within the ambit of the law but if your protest is not within the ambit of the law, we will tell you law exists and the law must be obeyed.”

Deployment of anti-riot officers, equipment

Meanwhile, the FCT police command has strategically deployed personnel and equipment throughout Abuja.

The Ccommand in a statement by SP Josephine Adeh, said: “These proactive deployments aim to ensure that residents of the FCT enjoy a hitch-free Independence Day celebration.

“The deployment will include Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, personnel, anti-riot equipment, and visibility policing, among others.

“Traffic diversions will be implemented in areas expected to experience large crowds, including Central Area and Eagle Square.

“While celebrating Independence Day, residents of the FCT are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or activities to the FCT Police emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653, PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.”

In the same vein, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, DIG Hashimu Argungu, called for renewed faith in the greatness of the country as Nigeria celebrates her 64th year of nationhood.

A statement by the commission said DIG Argungu also demanded patriotism and sacrifice from staff of the PSC and police officers who he admonished to have a sense of pride “for you belong to a great and promising nation.”

Only revolution can save Nigeria — Sowore

Speaking on the issue, Mr Sowore, in a chat with newsmen, stated that the recent intimidation from Federal Government and security operatives will not dissuade citizens from protesting against economic hardship in the country.

He said: “I can tell you that there will be protests. I can also confirm to you that I will be out there on the protest lines, joining my voice to that of other Nigerian patriots, to denounce the anti-people policies of this government.

“The protests will be peaceful and they will be national, across the country. The protests will hold across all parts of Nigeria because the scale of the devastation, hunger, insecurity, and hardship that this government has unleashed on Nigerians is national. I will emphasise again that these will be peaceful protests, as they’ve always been.

“The last protests were peaceful, yet the government met the protesters with batons and bullets. We will not be deterred. Our only weapon is truth, and no amount of force or violence will prevent us from speaking truth to power.”

The activist noted that the Nigeria Police Force does not need any formal notice about the planned nationwide protests because the demonstrations against hunger and insecurity would happen around them.

He said: “The police are aware that there will be protests. They understand why there will be protests. After all, they are Nigerians as well. They go to the same markets as everyone else.

“Their children attend the same schools that have become unaffordable to the common person. They are suffering the effects of high inflation. They are the ones being shot at by bandits and terrorists. The notice that the police need is that protests will happen all around them.”

Protest seeks fresh independence from internal colonizers

Speaker further, Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, told Vanguard said the protest was not to attract attention for dialogue with Aso Rock but for their demands to be met and ensure that the tyranny in the democratic system was defeated.

“We did not plan the protest to get an invitation to the Aso Rock Villa. I am sure we are only ready for change, not monologue. The ultimatum attached to our demands has to be met tomorrow (today).”

He explained that the protest was fixed for October 1 because “it is a significant protest that first questions the Independence of 1960 from Britain and now seeks a new independence from internal colonizers.”

Northern coordinators pull out

Barely 24 hours to the protest, coordinators of the #EndBadGovernance protest across the 19 northern states pulled out yesterday, citing failure on the side of national organizers to resolve knotty issues around how to safeguard protesters and wade off hoodlums from hijacking the process again.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of the Northern Coordinators of #EndBadGovernance protest, Mr. Abdullahi Daura and Mohammed Musa Biu, the coordinators stated that members are apprehensive about a repeat of the violence that erupted in Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the North and wouldn’t want anything destructive.

“We have asked questions and written several letters requesting for security cover at the convergence points in the North where people will join the protest. But we are yet to get a clear answer and measures taken to avoid violence and looting of property.

“Against this background, we are urging all our members in all the 19 states to obey directives from the coordinators and pull out until we get clearance from security agencies.”

While assuring Nigerians of their resolve to put pressure on the Federal Government to reverse all unfriendly policies that have caused untold hardship, they stated: “Lives and property of innocent citizens matter to us more than anything.

‘’Thus, we back out until further notice. We, therefore, warn our members to remain calm and peaceful during the October 1 Independence Day Celebration across the North.”

Coalition urges Kaduna residents to shun protest

In like manner, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, representing both indigenes and non-indigenes residing in Kaduna State, said they have firmly distanced themselves from these events and emphasized their commitment to constructive engagement, rather than disruption.

The group’s spokesman, Mr. Yusuf Lawal, said at a briefing in Kaduna yesterday that October 1 should serve as a day of celebration, honouring the sacrifices and contributions of past heroes, “a day to reflect on our collective journey as a state and a nation, not one marked by the destruction of government and private property or civil unrest.”

The coalition said: “We are particularly disheartened by the involvement of children in protests. Responsible parenting is crucial, and we, as representatives of over 50 civil society organizations, unequivocally oppose the participation of minors in such activities. The safety and well-being of our children must always take precedence over political expression.”

Keep away from ports, Labour warns, miscreants’ protesters

Also, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said while the union does not begrudge any Nigerian citizen his or her right to peaceful assembly and expression, members of the union will not condone any situation where miscreants and those who have no business at the ports come close to maritime facilities.

He said in a statement: “Maritime Workers Union Nigeria wishes to register its concern and apprehension regarding the impending nationwide protest slated to take place on October 1, 2024 (today).

‘’We hereby notify our membership, executive and the general public that MWUN is not associated with the individuals planning the aforementioned protest.

“As a union comprising essential service providers and critical economic actors, our members are committed to delivering uninterrupted services, as demonstrated during the COVID 19 lock-down when they worked tirelessly despite restrictive measures.

‘’This planned October 1, 2024, protest is not called by our CWC and we are, therefore, not obliged to participate.

“Consequently, MWUN seriously advises our members not to embark on any mass action in the ports, terminals, jetties and oil and gas platforms in all our nation’s ports to avoid disrupting marine operations which is the core of our economy.”

Kano police beef up security

In Kano, the state police command said it had beefed up security ahead of the Independence Day celebration and planned protest against bad governance in the state.

Spokesman of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at Bompai police headquarters in Kano.

SP Haruna said it has deployed both human and material resources to strategic locations in the state in anticipation of the planned protest and Independence Day celebration to forestall any likely security threat.

“On the forthcoming Independence Day Celebration on 1st October 2024, the Police Command has concluded all necessary arrangements to provide adequate security during and after the event. I therefore urge all Kano State residents to cooperate with the police as well as other security agencies and participate in the Independence Day Celebration responsibly, adhering to all safety guidelines and respecting the rights of others. In the same vein, security deployments have been concluded at strategic locations within the state to forestall any likely security threats on the alleged planned 1st October nationwide protest,” SP Haruna said.

CSOs divided in Edo, Osun group mobilises residents

In Edo State, CSOs were divided on whether or not to be part of the protest. Vanguard checks showed that some groups are interested in the protest holding, just like the recent #EndBadGovernance protest that was successful in the state but others said the state is still recovering from tension created by the September 21 governorship election and chose to stay away.

When contacted on phone, one of the foremost activists in the state, Omobude Agho, said his group will be part of the protest.

“It is a Nigerian people-driven protest, so I can’t answer for all of Edo people and other organizations but only for the Left Wing Movement of Nigeria, LMN, which is Edo Civil Society Organisations, EDOCSO at state level.

However, addressing a briefing, yesterday, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations called for peace and responsible engagement.

A statement jointly signed by leaders of various organisations, including Mr. Solomon Iduogbe, Annie Umoru, Blessed Jaft, Mr. Curtis Ogbebor, Doris Ogbeifun, Ifueko Ewere, Osuiwei Doris, Eghosa Ogbebor, Grace Ese and Kola Edokpayi, said: “Considering the spate of uncertainty in the air and the palpable tension over the recently concluded off-cycle Edo State gubernatorial election, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, led by core leaders and stakeholders of the Civil Society Organisations in Edo State, is calling on all key actors and stakeholders involved in the planned October 1 protest to exercise caution and sheath their swords.

“The current volatile nature of the state demands that all parties prioritise peace and unity over personal grievances, political interest or ambitions.”

Osun group mobilises residents

In Osun, the Coalition for Concerned Nigerians, CCN, the group responsible for the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state, urged residents to throng the roads to protest against excruciating hardship in the country.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the group’s Co-ordinator, Adetunji Ajala, said despite agitations by Nigerians through the #EndBadGovernance protest last month, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has failed to yield to the voice of the masses.

“The current administration does not listen to peaceful talk of addressing fuel price hike and hunger that the majority of Nigerians are passing through, which necessitated the #EndBadGovernance protest.