A whiff of anxiety, during the weekend, swept across the ranks of the police high command and organisers of tomorrow’s protest, spearheaded by popular musician, 2Face Idibia, tagged: iStandwithNigeria.
While the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja urged the organisers to shelve the protest, the arrowhead, 2Face, reassured that the exercise would be peaceful and orderly, adding that it was not targeted against the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, but against bad governance in the country.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) CPS Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja advised the organisers of the protest to call off the planned protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and security of the country, more so because it coincides with President Buhari’s return to the country from the United Kngdom, where he has been on vacation for about two weeks.
The protest was the major issue of discourse on most social media platforms, electronic media and public gatherings, this weekend.
2Baba as he is popularly known had said in a short video and comment on his Instagram page on Saturday, that, “This is a pro-Nigeria march. Please, guys lets do this peacefully and orderly. One love….”
The popular singer further appreciated the feedbacks and concerns of Nigerians towards the initiative, while urging those who would not actively participate in the march to take advantage of the various platforms on the social media to express their mind on the situation of the country.
“People, who cannot join the march, should join the conversation, through text, video and placards with the harshtag (#ourLivesMatters; #OneVoiceNigeria). It is a peaceful event and I want to encourage people to make sure the exercise is peaceful and orderly. We have an opportunity to make our voices heard and we must use it wisely. It is not an anti government protest, but a pro-Nigeria protest,” he said in the video.
In an attempt to ensure orderliness during the protest, 2Face also released the dos and don’ts of the protest on his Instagram page: “Do: Be at National Stadium on time, be disciplined, cooperative, (ensure) courtesy and dignity, display all signs and banners, report suspicious persons, activities. The don’ts are: Don’t be provoked, do not carry metal objects, (do not engage in) inciting actions that can be constructed as hostile towards the security personnel or use abusive language.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has said it will deploy “massive personnel’ for the planned protest.
The police also described the planned protest as “nothing special “and expressed its readiness to prevent any breakdown of law and order .
The state police boss, Fatai Owoseni, on Saturday met area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and heads of other units in preparation for the protest, ordering them to ensure a massive deployment of personnel.
A senior police officer, who spoke with the Sunday Tribune, under the condition of anonymity said: “There is nothing special about the protest. We are ready “
The officer, who was part of the crucial meeting also claimed that the police in the state were aware of a plan by another group to stage a counter-protest.
“We are also aware of the plan by another group to also protest in support of the government .The CP has directed that the police should not support any group,” he said, adding that “we are not just concentrating on land patrol, we want to deploy our men to monitor the air and the waterways. We won’t leave anything to chance.’’ Efforts to speak with the image-maker of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, failed as calls to her mobile phone were not answered.
Ibadan rally
It also emerged at the weekend that the protest would take place in Ibadan, Oyo State under the auspices of Oyo Voice.
The rally would kick off from Agbowo area of the city and feature addresses by several Nigerians to express displeasure at the turn of events in the country.
According to the coordinator of the Ibadan protest, Mr Tokunbo Salako, politicians would not be allowed to address the people because they are considered responsible for the poor plight of the Nigerian masses.
He allayed fears of being hindered by security agencies, noting that the constitution guaranteed Nigerians the right to protest especially in a democratic society.
“So many Nigerians are angry at the way things are going in the country. This protest is an avenue for all Nigerians to show their grievances at the way the government is running the country.
“Enough is enough! Things are moving from bad to worse. Government is not feeling the plight of the Nigerian masses. Government is not in tune with what is happening to the masses of the country.
“The protest is not specifically against President Muhammadu Buhari, but against everyone in government. Politicians will not be allowed to address the people gathered because we are not happy with them,” Salako said.
Northern musicians
Meanwhile, a group of musicians under the aegis of APC Northern Musicians Forum has dissociated its members from the planned rally saying it was ill-timed.
The forum, made up of songswriters and composers told newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday that it was too early to start judging the short period Buhari’s tenure.
The Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Haruna Ningi remarked that “2Face should have waited till the end of Buhari’s first four years in government before assessing the success or failure of Buhari.
“We are not in support of the protest, not because we are of a northern extraction but because APC inherited an already damaged economy from previous administration that had highest number of corrupt officials, hence the need to give him time to right the wrong.
“Honestly we are not in support of the protest by 2Face. So, we are not going to be part of it.”