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.
“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 Law has arrived to join the protest.
(Premium
Times)
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