By Kingsley Omonobi, Prince Osuagwu, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Omeiza Ajayi, Ozioruva Aliu & Juliet Umeh

WITH barely four days to the August 1 nationwide protest against hardship in the country, Force headquarters and organisers of the protest planned for August 1 have stuck to their positions on the legality of the protest.

While the police insisted that the organisers provide details to enable them to guarantee violence-free protest, one of the organisers, Deji Adeyanju, also insisted that the police had no right to call for such details, saying giving in to police demand would amount to re-writing the constitution.

This is even as lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, accused telcos of planning to frustrate the protest through indiscriminate barring of subscribers; number, an accusation the telcos have denied.

The tango between the police and protest organisers came as the President of the Christian Association of Association, CAN, His Eminence, The Most Rev Dr. Daniel Okoh, yesterday called for caution on both organisers of the planned protest and the federal government.

CAN’s position came as the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, threw his weight behind the protest, saying sponsors of the protest were hungry and hopelessness.

This is even as the immediate-past National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman, yesterday asked President Bola Tinubu to stop his attempts to criminalize and politicize the planned nationwide protest.

Police defend request for details, cite security concerns

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Police Force explained the reasons details of the organisers of the proposed nationwide protests were requested.

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had, on Friday, directed the protest organisers to submit their details, proposed routes and assembly points to the commissioners of police in their respective states.

However, the organisers of the protest disagreed with the IG, accusing him of trying to rewrite the constitution.

One of the organisers, Deji Adeyanju, said yesterday there is no provision in the constitution to support the requests made by the IG.

He said: “When the constitution was conferring the right to protest on the citizens, did it give conditions for protests? Is the IG trying to rewrite the constitution? Is he trying to donate rights to the citizens or what?

‘’He has no such powers. The constitution and other laws of the land do not give the IG the power to dictate how citizens should protest.”

Reacting, Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IG’s request is a standard procedure to facilitate effective communication, ensure safety of all participants and prevent any unlawful activities.

Adejobi said: “The Nigeria Police Force hereby addresses the recent accusations made by one activist, Deji Adeyanju, and others via various fora, alleging that the IGP is attempting to rewrite the constitution by requesting the details of the organisers and leaders of the planned nationwide protests.

“It is essential to know who is planning the assembly (protests) in each state as allowing faceless groups to operate unchecked could jeopardise the peace and stability of the country, and leave us with pains, sorrows and tears as experienced in the 2020 violent #EndSARS protests.

‘’If organised labour and other recognised bodies were involved, it would have provided a more structured and safer environment for such public protests.

“In this wise, requesting the details of protest organisers and their leaders and the schedules of their protests which include location, period, routes etc., is a standard procedure to facilitate effective communication, ensure the safety of all participants, and prevent any unlawful activities.”

Adejobi noted that the IGP had never denied the constitutional right of every citizen to freedom of association and expression, but had rather, at every point, emphasised that the right was to peaceful assembly and expression.

“It is also vital for Deji Adeyanju to note that in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or to protect the rights and freedom of other persons as enshrined in Section 45 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this request by the IGP is not out of place,’’ he said.

Adejobi urged the activist and other organisers not to mislead Nigerians.

Telcos debunk allegations of plans to frustrate #Endbadgovernance protest
Telecom operators yesterday denied vehemently they had a plan to frustrate the #Endbadgovernance protest scheduled between August 1 and 10, 2024, across the country, saying the social and economic contract they signed with the people to provide services at all times will not even allow them to do so.

The denial followed an allegation by a prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, that telecommunications companies, in the country were trying to frustrate the planned protest.

Yesterday, Adegboruwa in a statement, said complaints of network restrictions among citizens had risen as the protest nears. The statement read: “For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for flimsy and untenable reasons.

“Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking, while others didn’t give any reason at all.
“This action is coming on the heels of the proposed struggle of the people against hunger, poverty, suffering, and the suffocating economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

“From all indications, it would seem that the underlying target of the telecom companies is to limit the reach of their customers in order to restrict access and thus frustrate the protests.”
“The contract between telecommunication companies and their subscribers remain sacrosanct and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.

“Sufficient information and opportunity should be given for subscribers to remedy any alleged breach or error.

“So many telephone users deploy their numbers for their businesses and other lawful engagements, not to talk of those who may have medical and health-related emergencies.

The NCC is urged to look into this and come to the rescue of subscribers.”

However, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said nothing could be funnier than such allegation. According to him, “this is the funniest allegation anybody can make. We are in a social and economic contract with the people to provide services which is critical to their lives, at all times. That contract will not allow us to do such a thing. Besides, what is the motive for which we can even assume such a heinous act? Both those for and against the protest are our subscribers, so if we try to frustrate it, whose interest will we be serving? We are apolitical by nature and will remain so. We have no business to interfere with the political beliefs of our subscribers. So, we have no intention to interfere in whatever way with the protest.

“The deadline for SIM-NIN linkage for subscribers who have not done so is this month end and networks have started barring such subscribers after sufficient and repeated warnings have been passed. It will be unfair to attribute such disruptions to telcos interfering with the protest”, he added.

He said: ‘’We, therefore, call on them to join hands in working together to uphold the security and well-being of our nation.”

Be cautious, CAN warns FG, protest organisers

The CAN president, who spoke with journalists in Benin City, shortly after a thanksgiving service to round off the 2024 Annual International Conference of the Men’s Fellowship of the Christ Holy Church International where he is the General Superintendent, said other countries had passed through similar challenges as Nigeria but overcame them.

He said: “The world is passing through very difficult times and we bring it home back to Nigeria, people are passing through all kinds of suffering, many people are crying for food, they are hungry, all of us feel it and there is so much hunger in the land and the breakdown of major infrastructure.

‘’All our roads are in very poor shape but in all these, the people of God remain the ones who will give hope and who will take leadership to the people by the way of encouragement, the way of hope.

“We know what our God can do, our God can turn around the fortunes of a nation and it doesn’t take him more than a moment to do that, we have had examples in the scriptures, and we have also had examples in history of nations of the world that have passed through this state that Nigeria is now.’’

On the protest, he said: “Protest is legal in every democracy; we stand with the people of Nigeria in solidarity and we pray that the government of the day will listen to advice so that we will be able to avert all these troubles that people envisage.

“But I am hopeful that God who has brought us together as a nation will not abandon us. He will make people in authority to do what will make the people rejoice and He will do it as we continue to pray for our nation and those in authority.

“In light of the planned protests scheduled to commence on August 1, CAN urges all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances. We recommend giving the government more time to address these pressing concerns.

“This period should be used to explore other legal avenues that will not easily allow hoodlums to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and properties. Dialogue, petitions, and town hall meetings are viable options that can yield positive results without the risk of disorder.

“We call on the government to cut the cost of governance and expedite efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. The opulent lifestyle of political officeholders must be addressed to demonstrate the sincerity of those in government to improve the living conditions of the people.

‘’Likewise, it is imperative that government implements the newly approved national minimum wage to provide immediate relief to struggling families.”

Obi backs planned protest, says hunger, hopelessness are sponsors

Speaking on the issue weekend, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, said he was in support of the protest.

Obi, who spoke when he visited Alex Otti, the governor of Abia, at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, said hunger and hopelessness among youths are the “sponsors” of the planned protest.

According to him, there is nothing wrong in protesting if it is done within the ambit of the law.
“In the Nigerian constitution, protest is allowed. All I plead for is that those who are protesting should do so within the law and in a civil manner.

“When they talk about sponsors of protest, I say the sponsors are very simple. It is hunger and hopelessness among the youth. We have to listen to what Nigerians are going through.

“Security agents should manage the situation within the law, they should not try to be overbearing. It should be done within the law. Protest is allowed everywhere, globally.”

Obi asked the Federal Government to engage and listen to the protesters, adding that there is nothing wrong with the planned demonstration.

Stop criminalizing protests, Lukman tells Tinubu

On his part, the immediate-past National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman, asked President Bola Tinubu to stop his attempts at criminalize and politicize the planned nationwide protests against bad governance slated to commence on August 1.

Lukman in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, titled “Defence of the Indefensible”, said it is laughable that a president who was in a hurry to implement several anti-people policies would now turn around to ask Nigerians not to be in a hurry to protest.

He said Nigeria’s defence, security and intelligence architecture were acting out old scripts by warning Nigerians against protests and saying they had uncovered the sponsors.

Lukman said: “Every time Nigerians try to engage the government through protests or other modes of contestations, these same groups are always there with the same messages and warnings against so-called violence.

“They always uncover plots by the opposition, criminal elements, etc. to hijack protests and campaigns against governments. If anything, it would have been news if they said anything contrary.

Panic over planned protest worrisome — Utomi

Similarly, political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, also weekend described the panic by state actors on the planned protest from August 1 as worrisome.

He said: “The state of the motherland is certainly worrisome, so worrisome that notice by some not known people about impending protests have set off panic, threats, bullying and scapegoating, resulting in prefabricated falsehoods by agents of the state.

“MAN and the chambers of Commerce are up in arms with the direction of interest rates as monetary authorities struggle to contain inflation with high interest rates and insecurity continues.

“In this season of the unmasking of yesterday’s pretenders and the shrinking of the club of truth sayers and those who truly believe in a just society, it is not difficult to tell that the state of the motherland is of grave ill health.

“Surely values shape human progress and values seem to have taken flight from our current landscape and citizens must seek restoration.’’

Ignore Adebanjo, Afenifere not in support of protest, says Fasoranti’s faction

The Reuben Fasoranti-led faction of Afenifere has said that the planned protest, tagged #EndbadGovernance has taken on a “clear sinister dimension” outside the “tenets of constructive” engagement.

In a statement, yesterday, National Organising Secretary of the faction, Abagun Kole Omololu, said the planned protest was “ill-conceived,” noting that it is coming when the government is trying to address the issues.

Omololu further said: “It is every citizen’s right to protest as a way of headlining their grievances to the government,” the statement reads.

“The planned anti-Tinubu national protest is, however, taking a clear sinister dimension that is outside the tenets of constructive protests.

“With the threats of violence and force against public officials and family (veiled and unveiled) thrown into the protest mix, it is pertinent that every well-meaning citizen and organisation would stand against such ill-conceived and already tainted protest at such a time like this when the government is striving to get the nation out of the economic woods.”

Recently, the Ayo Adebanjo-led faction of Afenifere expressed support for the planned protest scheduled for August 1.

Justice Faloye, the publicity secretary of the faction, who spoke in an interview on Arise TV, said the group warned the Federal Government about the implications of its economic policies on Nigerians.

Faloye said the planned protest was triggered by the economic crisis in the country, which he noted was caused by the policies of the Tinubu-led government.

Reacting to the comment, the Fasoranti-led faction said Adebanjo was not the “authentic voice” of the Afenifere.

Omololu said any form of communication from Adebanjo, or his proxies should not be seen as the position of Afenifere.

“It is important here to reiterate that Pa Reuben Fasoranti is the leader of Afenifere and the authentic voice of the group.

“Pa Ayo Adebanjo is not the leader, as the role of acting leader is already abrogated, while the Council of Elders headed by the leader himself, Pa Fasoranti, now determines the position and direction of Afenifere.

“In light of this, any communication from Pa Adebanjo or anyone in his proxy does not represent the position of Afenifere.

“Such would only be acting as impostors and should not be entertained by the media or general public as Afenifere representatives.

“It goes without saying that outside Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo is a brand, and he does not need Afenifere to air his legitimate views.

“It is instructive to advise the media to note and publish his views as an individual as distinct from Afenifere, while all those using his name and that of Afenifere under whatever guise should desist, henceforth,” he added.

Lagos Indigenous youths warn against protest

Meanwhile, indigenous youths of Lagos State yesterday warned against the proposed nationwide protest, saying they won’t tolerate any attempt to destroy the state.

The youths, under the banner of Indigenous Youth Network, comprising young people and youth groups from all the five traditional divisions in Lagos, said they are not opposed to citizens exercising their fundamental rights to demonstrate peacefully whenever they were not satisfied with any policy of the government, but vowed to defend their heritage against any form of violence during the planned protest.

Leader of the group from Badagry Division, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the group strongly believes the planned protest was politically motivated, adding that youths in Lagos will only support a move bordering on constructive dialogue, rather than joining opposition forces bent on destabilising the country under the guise of demonstrations.

Lagos youths advised those sponsoring the protest to have a rethink, while pledging support
Ogunlende said: “We, the Lagos Indigenous Youths Network, stand before you today to reflect on our progress as a state and express concern over the planned protest in Lagos. While we acknowledge the fundamental right to protest, we believe it must be constructive and in the best interest of the people.

“We are not against the citizens constructively engaging their leaders when it is crucial but the moment such engagement becomes a platform for tension and warmongering, sponsored for political scores, then it is time to call for caution. This is what we have observed.

“Intelligence gathered reveals that the planned protest is politically motivated and not in the interest of Lagosians who are peace-loving and hardworking. We are coming together to defend our heritage and state against any possible destruction by agents of violence masquerading as lovers of the people.”