Organisers of the nationwide protest against hardship have listed points of convergence for public meetings, rallies and processions across the country.
But a Lagos High Court has restricted protesters in Lagos taking part in the proposed August 1 nationwide protest to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu area of the state.
It will be recalled that Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had asked organisers of the protest to submit to Force Headquarters contact details of those organising the protest, as well as designated points and routes of the protest.
This is even as they asked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to withdraw soldiers deployed across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities, ahead of the proposed protest.
The IGP, however, buckled and ordered senior officers to protect protesters in the planned nationwide protest.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the Nigerian project continued yesterday, in their call for both organisers of the protest and the federal government to exercise restraint over the protest, especially given the pro-government protests in some parts of the country on Monday.
They include Catholic Bishops, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, among others.
Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, solicitor to one of the protest organisers, Take-it-Back Movement, in a letter to the IGP, listed the points of convergence for the rallies to include Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos, and Opposite Wema Bank; and Akpakpava Lane, Benin City.
Other locations are opposite the School of Agric, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, Rivers and Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun State.
Adegboruwa, who was to have met the IGP in Abuja yesterday, based on an invitation from the police boss, requested that the meeting be enlarged and held virtually to give room for more stakeholders to attend.
He specifically requested that the meeting be led by human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, and attended by representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, other lawyers, and civil society organizations, CSOs.
Rising from the virtual meeting yesterday, Force Headquarters said in a statement on the outcome: “During the meeting, the IGP emphasized the importance of maintaining public order and safety during the planned protests.
“He acknowledged the group’s right to express their concerns through peaceful protests and reiterated the Police Force’s duty to facilitate such rights within the bounds of the law.
“The IGP has advised the Take-It-Back Movement, who have indicated their interest in protest, to engage with the respective state police commissioners to coordinate and plan the protests in a manner that ensures the safety of participants and the general public. ’He said this is also to pre-empt any security challenges and ensure that the protests proceed peacefully.
“Additionally, the IGP strongly advised against unplanned open and unnecessary processions due to the potential dangers they pose.
“He stressed that organizing and coordinating with the Police and other security agencies are essential steps to mitigate risks, protect the rights of all citizens, and protect the well-being of all involved.
“The Inspector-General of Police, while reiterating that the Force remains dedicated to protecting the rights of all citizens and ensuring that all public gatherings are conducted safely and securely, calls on stakeholders to work together to foster a peaceful and secure environment during the planned protests.”
Based on the request of Adegboruwa, the IGP also ordered senior officers to protect protesters in the planned nationwide protest.
In a letter, dated July 29 and signed by Johnson Adenola, the IGP principal secretary, IGP Egbetokun granted the request of the group for police protection.
“I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands across the country to attend to your request.’’
Court restricts protests in Lagos to Freedom, Peace Park
Meanwhile, a Lagos High Court has restricted protesters in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu area of the state.
The court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, gave the restriction yesterday, following a preemptive exparte application filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, seeking 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 Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
While moving his application before the court, Mr Pedro argued that as 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 a need to protect critical infrastructure if the state and prevent irreparable losses of lives and property as witnessed during the #EndSARS protest in 2020.
Pedro maintained that the Police in the state did not have sufficient manpower to provide security support for protesters who planned to protest in all the local government councils public highways and other areas of public access in the state.
He further argued that there is a need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums who are prepared to breach law and order and cause destruction in different locations in the state under the pretext of public protest against alleged bad governance.