PUNCH
Organisers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have declared that the police, Department of State Services, and the military would not stop them from embarking on the demonstration as planned.
The organisers have also written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to request security during the demonstration, noting that protest is a fundamental right they would not submit to any state agent.
Nigeria will celebrate its 64th independence on Tuesday, October 1, the day some Nigerian youths have taken to protest the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation of the group, Damilare Adenola, said mobilisation efforts had begun, adding that Nigerians were mobilising from different parts of the country for the protest.
“We have also written to the Inspector General of Police, informing him of our protest locations and reminding him of the constitutional duty of the police to protect protesters as opposed to the repression we have witnessed in times past,” said Sanyaolu.
The group explained that the FCT protest would be held at the Eagle Square, the same venue of the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos protest would take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
The organisers noted that the protest would be across the country, adding that only ‘immediate reversal of fuel subsidy removal’ would dissuade them from the demonstration.
The IG, Egbetokun, had directed the Force zonal and state commands to deploy men from Monday to strategic locations until a stand-down order was given.
Egbetokun also directed that the policemen should dress in camouflage with hats, even as he asked the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to engage and discourage available civil society groups and individuals from participating in the protest.
We are not afraid – Sowore, Adeyanju
However, a leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, said the youth were not afraid of the police, adding that the protest would hold as planned.
Sowore explained that the reported fear of some people about the possibility of violence during the protest was not true.
“Nobody has expressed to us or anyone that they’re afraid because they know we are not violent protesters; maybe you should ask that of the government,” he added.
Lawyer to the organisers, Deji Adeyanju, said it was wrong for the police to summon protesters who were exercising their right.
“The police do not have the right to summon protesters like they are currently doing. It is the responsibility of the police to protect the protesters anytime they embark on a demonstration. The protesters are not political parties; security agencies should not harass them,” he stated.
The counsel noted that the crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters in August was to discourage people from participating in further demonstrations in the country.
He, however, said the arrest and detention of some of the demonstrators would not deter youths from joining the #FearlessOctober1 protest.
Adeyanju said, “The government plans to discourage people from coming out to protest; that is why they are still detaining our comrades who participated in the August protest. But that will not dampen the morale of the youths on the #FearlessOctober protest.”
Eight groups to join Lagos protest
On his part, Adenola said the organisers would not be deterred by the deployment of security agencies.
He added that the #FearlessOctober1 demonstration was a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place in August, adding that the demonstration was necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands.
He listed some of their demands to include the reversal of the subsidy removal policy, amendment of the constitution, overhauling of the legislature, and the unconditional release of protesters in police custody.
Adenola said, “We are unperturbed by the threats issued by security agencies. What we have seen so far is that they (security agencies) don’t respect the rights of protesters; they may end up instigating violence against protesters.
“But we will keep warning them to ensure that they respect people’s right to express their grievances as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are also using this opportunity to call on the Nigerian people to come out unafraid and express their grievances. When we have enough protesters on the ground, the police and other security agencies will dare not harass them.
“People are experiencing hardship, and the government is telling them not to protest. It is just natural; people have to speak up against this hardship inflicted by President Bola Tinubu’s government,” Adenola said.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Peluola Adewale, said no harassment or intimidation from any security agencies would stop the protest, disclosing that about eight civil society groups would participate in the demonstration in Lagos State.
He warned the government against sponsoring hoodlums to infiltrate genuine protesters during the protests, stating that the demonstration would be peaceful in Lagos.
“We cannot rule out the fact that the government can sponsor violence to discredit the protest, but we want to warn them against that. People should not be deprived of their freedom of expression and assembly. Protest is our fundamental right, and we cannot surrender it to the police or anyone. We are not afraid of the police, DSS, or military,” he added.
Another leader of the protesters, Taiwo Hassan, said Nigerians had the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly.
He said, “We are never going to submit our rights. Yes, you know many people might be afraid of what will happen if they are shot or what happens if they are arrested. But increasingly as people are thinking of that, people are also realising that our condition in this country is one between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you come out to protest, yes, maybe there is a chance that you might be arrested or you might be killed.
“But people also realize that even when you stay at home and don’t come out to protest, it doesn’t mean your life will be safe. Hunger is killing people right there in their bedroom. People are committing suicide and the state of insecurity means that none of us is safe.”
Police assure Katsina protesters
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command has said it had implemented measures to ensure the planned nationwide protest does not descend into chaos.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, on Saturday, said the command had mobilised both human and intelligence resources to guarantee safety before, during, and after the protest.
Sadiq said, “We have taken proactive measures to ensure public safety and security. Adequate personnel have been deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order, with enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance, and patrols across the state.
“While we recognise the rights of citizens to protest, we urge protesters to exercise these rights responsibly and within the framework of the law.”
