‘Restrict Your Agitations To Freedom Park Ojota’ — CP Ishola Tells Lagos Protesters, Urge Citizens To Go About Their Businesses Without Molestation. Watch Videos Below

By Emmanuel Edom 

Following reports of another nationwide protest slated for tomorrow ‘s Independence Day celebration, October 1st , 2024, by some groups ,over hunger and hardship ravaging the country, the newly posted Lagos State Commissioner Of Police , CP Ishola Olarewaju , has advised the Organizers of the planned protests to abide by the prevailing Court ruling ,restricting protesters to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park Ojota.

CP Ishola,who alerted on possible hijack of the protest by miscreants, warned intending protesters against breakdown of law and order.

 The Police Chief made the pronouncement on Friday , September 27th, 2024, at Police Officers Wives Association,POWA ,Auditorium,during a stakeholders’ meeting his Command organized with other security agencies in Ikeja, Lagos.

CP Ishola however pleaded for peace and serenity in the state, while assuring law abiding Lagosians of adequate police presence to maintain law and order during the planned protests across the state.

He said ,”the Command is not stopping anybody from protesting, as it is their inalienable and legitimate right, but we would execute police mandate of ensuring no groups or individuals would be allowed to perpetrate violence and destroy people’s property and businesses in the state.

 Residents should go about their businesses without any intimidation. Protesters should not trampled on other people’s rights or disrupt public peace, because  Police will not condone any act of lawlessness or violence in any part of the State”.

According to him,”there is a valid Court Ruling restricting protesters and police will enforce the court order restricting the nationwide protests against hunger and economic hardships to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota”.

Contributing,the State Director of the Department of State Service ,DSS, Mr. Dapo Amao , noted that there was a need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by miscreants , to avoid breach of law and order and cause destruction in the state.

He assured of the resolve of his Department to collaborate with other sister security agencies to ensure live and property are secured.

Amao,who advised Nigerians to give the present government some time, also enjoined protesters  not to disrupt residents from going about their lawful activities by not harassing, disturbing of the public and destruction of properties.

The Nigerian Army did not make any public statement but assured through the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Hundeyin,that they are standing with the other Security Agencies.

Speaking, the Lagos State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, pleaded with citizens to give government more time.

He urged the protesters to be peaceful and not to allow hoodlums to hijack the protest and cause violence.

Other Security Chiefs like the Controller of Immigration Department who  spoke , affirmed their determination to  collaborate with other security agencies to ensure live and property are secured. 

“Do not allow the protest to escalate to violence, If there must be protest, it must be peaceful”, the security Agencies jointly affirmed 

 In his own unpopular contribution that appeared repulsive to some participants,Founder  of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic Human Rights organization, Prof. Ishaq Akintola , while comparing Nigeria with countries like America, France, said “It is sacrilegious and unpatriotic to protest during Independence Day celebration”.

Prof Akintola, stated that it was wrong for people to continue embarking on nationwide protest against Government when it was obvious that such protest would be hijacked by hoodlums.

Greeted with resounding applauses from most of the participants after their citizens friendly speeches, the Chairman  of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) , represented by Comrade Aladetan Abiodun,  and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Chairperson , Comrade Funmi Sessi, denied being aware of the planned  nationwide protest, but encouraged the nation’s security agencies to be bold enough to tell those at the corridors of power that there is so much hardship in the country. 

According to the labour leaders, politicians in power should understand that there are some underlining causes that lead to protest and such causes should be addressed in good time to avert protest of any kind.

 “Politicians are living in affluence and are quite unmindful of the hardship people are going through,” they insisted.

 They added that government should not always oppress Nigerians for trying to express their anger” they insisted. 

 Lending support to Labour’s position, representative of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Chapter contended that many politicians or leaders in Nigeria would always posit that they know what Nigerians are going through but in actual fact such leaders do not feel what Nigerians are feeling.

 “There is hardship on the land and only the poor are feeling it” he argued. 

 The lawyer noted that even though the NBA would not support violent protest in any where, Nigerians are not really seeing anything good to make them celebrate the nation’s Independence joyfully like other countries, adding,  “All we can celebrate, is hardship, and the only thing that binds Nigerians together is hunger and poverty.”