Organisers of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide demonstrations slated for August 1 have rejected a proposal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for confined protests.
At a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday, July 30, the IGP suggested confined protests in identified locations and advised against street rallies. Egbetokun said some persons calling for violence during the forthcoming protests have been arrested. He warned against street processions which he said could be hijacked by fifth columnists and enemies of the state.
“It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence,” the IGP advised.
“Confining peaceful protesters to particular locations will help us a lot.
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer for the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protests, rejected the proposal of the IGP.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), other lawyers, civil society organisations, as well as some arrowheads of the planned protests also attended the virtual meeting and rejected the restricted movement.
The planned protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation and the nation’s capital Abuja in August.
According to the organisers of the protest, increases in food prices, fuel prices, hunger, hopelessness and joblessness amongst the youths in the country are the sponsors of the protest.
Adegboruwa highlighted some of the points of convergence for the protests as Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos; Akpakpava Lane, Benin City; School of Agric, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, River and Freedom Park, Osogbo.
After the IGP’s proposal, Adegboruwa said there would be street processions before protesters converged at specific locations sent to the police.
“Our letter to the Inspector General of Police indicates that there will be processions that will be guided to achieve peace during the protests,” he said, noting that leaders will also make speeches on the days of the protest.
Also, Adegboruwa said the attention of the police should be focused on thugs and groups threatening fire and brimstone. He said the organisers cannot give a specific number of people who would participate in the protests as Nigerians have been invited to join the rallies. The senior lawyer assured the IGP that the organisers are not destructive.
Egbetokun subsequently said the police would provide security cover for protesters at confined locations sent to the Force Headquarters.
“I will not be able to guarantee security for your members if you embark on street processions,” the IGP said. “I believe that a peaceful protest in a confined location will be safe” he warned.
