●Amid police protection, thousands stage street protest in Lagos
By Cosmas Omegoh
Some major streets of Lagos were in a boisterous mood on Monday. Thousands of residents staged a rally along some major highways in the city in protest against the plummeting standard of living of Nigerians under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The initial convener, popular musician, Tuface Innocent Idiabia, had actually backed down on the eve of the event. Through a statement, the Benue-born star cited security concerns stating that he received reports that the event would lead to a breakdown of law and order.
But his absence did not dampen the spirits of the protesters.
Tagged EnoughisEnough (EiE) Nigeria, with the catch phrase “I Stand With Nigeria/One Voice Nigeria,” the rally had thousands of activists, members of civil society groups, concerned Nigerians and the press in attendance, with celebrities like Charles Oputa (Charlie Boy), Seyi Law, Gbenga Sesan, Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and a number of activists making speeches. During the peaceful and fun-filled protest, the participants were accompanied by the police, members of the Department of State Services, (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), marching from the National Stadium in Surulere to the popular Ojuelegba Bus stop. From there, they made a U-turn, going through the Funsho Williams Avenue to Costain Bus Stop to the National Arts Theatre, in Iganmu. They chanted solidarity songs and danced to the revolutionary songs of Bob Marley, Fela Anikolapo Kuti and Femi Kuti, among others.
As early as 7 am, a large number of armed policemen had massed in front of the National Stadium. They were joined later by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni. His men had stationed no fewer than a dozen patrol vehicles and two Armoured Personnel Carriers at the scene, while policemen were seen on horsebacks. Some took positions around the open space in the stadium and had their eyes on the protesters as they trickled in. Members of the local and foreign media were also present.
Mr Owoseni said the police were at the arena to protect it and ensure that law and order were observed. He later jocularly said: “We have even secured this place for you,” to the organisers.
Yemi Adamolekun, EiE’s Executive Director, alongside her members had rallied to remount the event after it emerged that Tuface had thrown in the towel. Together with other organisers she maintained that the protest was not about Tuface, as he was an individual. They insisted that EiE was about Nigeria and Nigerians – that it was about getting the government and the watching world to know how far things had degenerated in the country within a short while.
Right there in one of the open fields, the participants held numerous placards with which they expressed their feelings. Some of them read: “Government make una treat us well; When government fears the people there is liberty; Save the country ooo, we dey die of hunger; Politicians are united in sharing our money; We want good life not hardship.”
Next was speech time and there were plenty of them.
Adamolekun told the crowd that EiE had tabled five key issues as its reason for the protest. There issues are about transparency in government, she stated.
She said: “We don’t care about where anyone here comes from; we are concerned about Nigeria. What we are unhappy about is that Nigeria is now a subject of ridicule. And we say, enough is enough. The number here might not be important; what is important is the purity of our purpose. And the purpose for which we are here is to hold government accountable.
“We are alarmed that our government is not transparent in dealing with the people. We have security concerns ranging from what is happening in Southern Kaduna to human rights violations in the South East. We are not happy with the high cost of governance in this country. The type of presidential democracy we are running is too expensive. We are equally concerned about the issue of social justice and the wave of corruption. And lastly, we are gravely concerned about poor electricity supply across the country. We are tired of estimated billings by electricity providers.”
In his speech, one of the organisers, Olu Martins said: “This is a peaceful protest. The question of people going to hijack the protest is a lie. And so, whether Tuface is here or not is not important. He is like a Moses who has been left behind. But we have here other Joshuas.
“We are here because this National Stadium is in shambles. And from here, we will march to another national monument, which is the National Theatre. It is also in shambles. Both edifies mirror the state of our national decay. And we demand that Nigeria must be better; we demand that those in government must make sacrifice – that government must be transparent in its dealing with us the people. That the good things of life must be available to us Nigerians, that we want the so-called dividends of democracy. “
Also speaking, Yemi, one of the organisers observed: “The fact that the federal government wants to stop this rally means that it is very important to them.” He however called for caution, warning the participants not to do anything that would warrant the police molesting anybody.
But Dagga Tolar of the Democratic Social Movement warned that the police should learn to conduct themselves well. He described as unfortunate the attempt of the ruling elite to scuttle the rally, insisting that it was a huge minus to the federal government.
Taking a swipe at the government at the centre, a lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong, Convener, Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, noted that: “If President Buhari is not ready to rule, let him return our mandate and then resign. We are sad that we have presidential spokesmen who say we cannot force President Buhari to speak to us. We cannot take that insolence anymore.
“It is our right to protest; that cannot be taken away from us. That is the message we are sending out today. We are saying, let the federal government sit up.”
Speeches over, the atmosphere turned electric, as the participants seemed to have found fresh zeal. They charged out, headed for Ojuelegba, blaring their trumpets, dancing to solidarity songs, even as motorists and commuters hailing their courage.
It was a walk that took a little above 30 minutes before the participants reached the National Theatre in Iganmu, with the police on their trail. Right at the entrance of the arena, there was also heavy police presence. But the police did not molest anybody.
At a lawn in the expansive compound, the protesters took a vintage position to address the crowd, which had now grown in number. Firing the first shot was Seyi Law, the comedian.
He said: “Everybody here is a government on his part; is it not so?” he queried. “It is only in Nigeria where only one man has three electric generating sets. It is only in Nigeria where we have inexperienced persons in the right places.
“And now, people can’t be encouraged to go into agriculture because they are afraid of their lives. They can’t go to their farms because of Fulani herdsmen.
“Let me tell you, corruption is like a ladder. Some people are up there, some are below. It is those below who hold the ladder for those above. Part of this corruption is that our president is abroad. He can’t come home and we are not getting the right information about him. Is this what we deserve as a nation?
“We do not have anything against President Buhari. But we are angry that we don’t have power supply. If we have power supply, then you will know that Nigerians are very enterprising people. We are concerned that Nigeria is in a recession and we don’t have any roadmap to get out of it. We are concerned that now if you receive five phone calls every day, two out of the five callers are begging you for money. Is that proper?
“We say that we are fighting corruption, but if you go the police station at night, we will see that only two sticks of candle are lighting up the place. There is one in the charge room and the other in the DPO’s office. Is this what we deserve as a nation? We need civilised police!”
Thanking the police for their support, he said: “Now we will continue to protest until we have good governance; we will continue to protest until our president stops going abroad for medical treatment. And we are asking: what has happened to the clinic at Aso Rock where million of naira has been pumped?
“They say they are fighting corruption, yet they are not paying salaries. They are budgeting N28 million to buy newspapers. They are using N55million to evacuate the septic tank at Aso Rock and using N200million to cut grass at a lawn at Aso Rock. And they say we should not talk?
“Now, I want to move two motions. All our senators and House of Representative members should stop sending their children abroad for education. That all our senators and representatives should start wearing Made in Nigeria Ankara. Those in support of these motions say ayyy! The ayyys have it!”
Another participant, while speaking to the crowd, said: “I came here for a protest. I came here to fight for my own rights and not your own rights. I’m here to protest against a government that is inefficient.
“Those of them who say they are representing you are only representing themselves. They are destroying the country. No one can give you a better life unless there is a total revolution.”
Chalie Boy also addressed the crowd, spotting an all-black attire, including a cap, T-shirt and trousers. He said: “We never mumu reach? (Have we not been stupid for long?) And the crowd roared, “Yes ooo!
“Now hear this: we won’t relent until government does what is right – until government is seen to be working for the people.
“It is not the police that direct a protest. Go and ask them in Egypt or even The Gambia. We are in for a fight until we are able to liberate ourselves, as Bob Marley said.
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