A
protest to demand good governance and an urgent explanation for the country’s
economic downturn kicks off today simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja, Port
Harcourt, and other major cities across the country.
The decision to
stage the process has been met with stiff opposition by the police who,
repeatedly, told the organisers to call off their planned action.
Popular musician,
2Face Idibia, who was billed to lead the protest in Lagos, opted out at the
eleventh hour citing security concerns.
In Lagos, the
protesters are expected to march from National Stadium in Surulere to the
National Theatre, Iganmu, a distance of about four kilometres.
Outside the
National Stadium, Lagos, there at least half a dozen police patrol vans and
more than 20 armed police officers.
Inside the stadium,
there are dozens of people carrying placards, as well as more armed police
officers.
But
everything has been peaceful.
Yemi Adamolekun of
the Enough is Enough Nigeria said the group was not discouraged by the decision
of Tuface Idibia to back out of the protest.
Earlier, a heavy
police presence at the entrance to the National Stadium, Surulere, blocked
sports men and women from entering the stadium for their morning activities.
The police officers had said the stadium would be closed because of the
protest.
But at 7:40am the
gate of the stadium was opened by the management of the stadium.
When Fatai Owoseni,
the Lagos CP, arrived, he denied authorising the blockade at the stadium.
“If you look
towards the gate you will see that the gates have been opened and our men are
just controlling the flow of traffic and people, and my men are all stationed
to douse any kind of fear from the minds of the protesters,” Mr. Owoseni said.
So far, less than
100 people have turned out for the protest.
Olu Martins: “The
approach is very simple. It is to tell them that if people resolve, nothing can
stop them. We have resolved that Nigeria must change.
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“We are here at the
National Stadium, that tells you the problem with Nigeria. From here we march
to the National Theatre, another national asset that is in shambles.”
This is a peaceful
protest. For the avoidance of doubt, let me say one more time, this is a
peaceful protest. Please follow instructions so that we can start well and end
well.
Yemi Adamolekun: “We
need to prove them wrong. We have marshalls in reflector jackets. The police
are here to protect us.
“The fact that
government wants to stop the protest shows that protests are very important.”
Comedian Seyi was seen at
the protest.
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