How Day 5 of nationwide protest panned out in Lagos …C0NTINUE READING HERE >>>
Protesters in Lagos State returned to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota for the fifth day after they were attacked by suspected hoodlums on Sunday while praying for the nation.
Before the protesters began the event of the day, they observed a minute silence for lives lost to the protest nationwide.
Thereafter, the protesters entered what they called “Congress by Protesters”, led by Mr Hassan Soweto, where they briefed the gathering and newsmen on the event nationwide.
Soweto denied they had suspended the protest as claimed by some people whom the organisers described as agents to destabilise the protest.
He said the protest would continue because President Bola Tinubu failed to address their demands, particularly the reduction in fuel, electricity and food prices.
The protesters called for the sacking of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, for casualties recorded so far during the protest nationwide.
Soweto said they were fighting for the general public interest, stressing they should not be seen as agents against the state.
“We don’t want a dialogue with the president, but we want him to meet our demands. We have not sent anyone to represent us at the presidency for dialogue.
“Those who briefed the press that the protest had been suspended are not members of the groups,” he said.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, was present at the park as more police personnel stood to provide security.
Protest Day 5: Protesters move to major streets in Osun
The ongoing nationwide protest, which entered its fifth day on Monday, moved from the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo to some major streets across the town.
The protesters moved from the park at about 10.05 a.m. to Igbonna Market, Aiyetoro Stadium and other locations before converging at Olaiya Bridge.
The situation led to gridlock of vehicular movements with motorists looking for alternative routes.
However, the intervention of security personnel assisted in making the roads accessible, while also ensuring the protection of lives and property.
Security agencies on duty include the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Others are the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
One of the protesters, Mr Akin Ashafat, said the government had yet to address protesters’ demands, hoping that something would be done soon.
Ashafat, an activist, also known as Government, said the protest would, therefore, continue until all the demands were met for the best interest of Nigerians.
He called on the president to take quick action by “walking his talk” to the protesters’ demands rather than seeking dialogue, which he claimed might not yield any tangible result.
Also, Mr Segun Oyewale, the spokesperson of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) in Osun, urged the government to take practical steps toward resolving the demands.
Oyewale called for a price control mechanism to regulate prices of food commodities, and the provision of scholarships instead of student loans offered by the Federal Government.
According to him, the president should reduce the price of petroleum and check the nation’s inflation.
Protests: Kano govt probes violence as Police arrest 632 suspects
The Kano State Government has taken decisive action to address the recent protests that resulted in senseless killings and looting of public buildings.
A commission of inquiry has been established to investigate the root causes of the violence, identify those responsible, and recommend measures to prevent its recurrence.
Malam Sunusi Bature, Director- General, Media and Publicity, announced this on Monday at Government House, Kano.
He said that the committee would focus on uncovering the facts behind the killings and destruction.
Bature reiterated that protesters carrying Russian flags were not affiliated with the government.
He said, ”Genuine protesters have submitted their grievances, which would be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja for appropriate action.
”The state government’s establishment of the committee demonstrates its commitment to addressing citizen concerns and ensuring accountability for the violence.
”Furthermore, 632 suspects have been arrested by the Police for vandalising public buildings during the protests and have been arraigned before various courts.
”The state government emphasises its commitment to maintaining peace and order, warning that those found guilty of vandalism will be arrested and prosecuted.
”Additionally, the state government plans to provide massive training programs for youths in various trades to promote self-reliance.”
We arrested riotous individuals during nationwide protest – Police
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says the police operatives only arrested riotous individuals who were engaged in criminality during the ongoing nationwide protest.
Adejobi said this during the monthly news conference organised by The Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) hosted by the Department of States Services (DSS) on Monday in Abuja.
He said that there were differences between protests and riots.
Adejobi said that while there were peaceful protests in some states, there were riots and criminalities in others on the first day.
“So, arrests of certain individuals who have been riotous should not be seen as the arrest of protesters.
“Let us get it clear. There are some states in Nigeria they have been having peaceful protests and security agencies have been engaging them.
“I am sure and I know you are aware that some governors and public office holders have been engaging them.
“You can only engage in a gathering, an assembly that is friendly and accessible, where you have individuals wielding stones, offensive weapons, dangerous weapons and all the likes.
“I don’t think a reasonable man will move close or be in the middle of such a gathering,” he said.
Adejobi said that the police, military and other security agencies engaged the protesters professionally across the country.
He said that the protesters in Abuja had violated the court ruling that restricted them to the main bowl of the National Stadium.
According to him, some persons have deliberately and willfully violated the court ruling.
He said the presence of the police was not to harass or intimidate anybody but to protect the national assets, adding that the barricade at the Eagle square was to protect the three arms zone.
“You will agree with me that in some areas in Abuja, we recorded riots and this protest was violent.
“Anywhere we have these engagements, I don’t think we should refer to such an assembly or a gathering or a procession as peaceful anymore.
“I want to confirm again that those that have been arrested so far, to the best of my knowledge and with the records I have from all the states, are criminally minded individuals.
“They went out, who actually engaged in various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery, homicide, mischief, or the one we call malicious damage of private and public facilities, owners are in pain as I speak with you.
“So I don’t want us to use the word protesters for those who are actually, to the best of our knowledge and based on our findings, that are rioters and of course, criminally minded individuals.
“We have arrested 873 suspects so far and these suspects are those who are directly connected to one criminal offence or the other,” he added.
Adejobi also denied that the police and other security agencies attacked journalists who were covering the protests, adding that they only prevented people from gathering at unauthorised places.
He said the police had also apprehended some individuals for treasonable felony for carrying the flags of a foreign country on the Nigerian soil.
“Just this morning, we arrested Ahmed Tailor from Kwanahudu, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, for producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to go and fly, for reasons known to him.
“We are profiling him, we want to get other sponsors like him and as I speak with you, the same thing has happened in Kaduna.
“We have been able to arrest 30 of them with the same Russian flags and I don’t want us to believe that for now, at this stage, we are still having a protest.
“The undertones of this protest, based on our intelligence before it commenced on Aug. 1, have begun to manifest,” he added.
Nationwide Protests: SAN urges state governors to strengthen grassroots devt
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Mohammed Ndarani, has urged state governors to strengthen grassroots development to complement the president’s efforts in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.
Ndarani, who made the call in an interview on Monday in Abuja, was reacting to issues surrounding the ongoing protests and the Federal Government’s release of ₦570billion grant to states.
President Bola Tinubu while addressing the nation following the nationwide protests against rising cost of living, said that the ₦570bn to the 36 states was to expand livelihood support to their citizens.
The senior lawyer said that the state governments have to put local community needs first by making sure local government administrations are efficient and accountable.
“How much money have the state governors made since the fuel subsidy was removed? What have some of the governors done with the monies that the president provided to them?
“Some of the governors, not the president, are the issue because when the monies are released to them, they are unable to disperse them to the local governments.
“This has made it challenging for the chairmen of local governments to award contract worth five million Naira.
The SAN, who expressed disappointment over the manner state resources were deployed, said the president should set up an independent checking mechanism on his policies, to ensure compliance.
“Under the current sharing formula, the federal government gets 52.68 per cent of the revenue, states 26.72 percent, and local governments 20.60 per cent .
“Under the 2024 approved budget, over N5 trillion will go to the states, which is N2.24 trillion more than the N3.3 trillion disbursed in 2023.
“The president is doing his very best to enhance the revenue base of the country; therefore, some of the state governors must equally be sympathetic.
“They must urgently consider the needs of the local people,’’ he added.
He advised the citizens to demand accountability from their governors.
“Ask them how much they give to the local governments each month. Nigerians must be informed, and there should be supporting documentation.
“Since the start of this government, every governor is required to submit information on their earnings and expenses.
”My advice to people who wan to go on the streets to protest, to blame their governors and not the president, for the difficulties they are facing,” he said..
He said that although peaceful protests are in line with the constitution, he called on the protesters to dialogue with the federal government and focus more on their state governors.
“The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation and our scarce resources will be again used to restore them
“Right now, protest is not the best option. The issue is what is the best course of action? How can Nigeria be fixed? That ought to be the appropriate question.
“Honest and constructive dialogues are essential to addressing the underlying causes of unrest and finding sustainable solutions’’.
He also commended the security architecture for their display of professionalism at the protest and that Nigerian leaders must find a way to engage its citizens and address their concerns.
“My heart is shattered seeing the devastating violence and destruction; protests should be suspended to give room for dialogue with the government at all levels.
“It’s time for us to come together, engage in dialogue, and find alternative solutions to this senseless cycle of violence.
“We must prioritise protecting the lives and properties of both our government and our people, we must engage in pursuing good governance’’.
He appreciated the president for his unequivocal stance against ethnic division and threats.
“It is important to maintaining peace, law, and order while upholding human rights in line with international conventions.
“I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests, but we must stop further bloodshed, violence, and destruction.
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