Fayose knocks FG, police over ban of Tuface mass protest

Governor of Ekiti State and chairman of the Governors’ Forum of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked the Federal government and the Nigeria Police on alleged move to stop a planned mass protest advocating for good governance and condemning failure of responsible leadership by successive government which is set to be led by world Nigeria’s ace musician, Mr Innocent Idibia, (aka TuFace).

The singer had, in the past days, rallied the support of his fans via his social media platforms to join his march against the crippling state of the nation.

Idibia’s plan to stage the protest in Lagos on February 5 had been publicly supported by Governor Fayose, who reportedly indicated his readiness to be part of the peaceful protest.

Meanwhile, the Lagos police commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said intelligence report indicates that criminals might hijack the planned Tuface protest and therefore vowed to stop the protest.

The Command had therefore allegedly vowed to stop the planned protest championed by the pop star.

The police boss said, “We know that Tuface does not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand.”

Critizicing the police’s stand as dismissing it as a ploy to stop a legitimate civil act, Fayose said.

In a press statement issued by the Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, the governor said, ” Leadership is about accountability. To be accountable, leaders must listen to public opinion either by civil and peaceful protest.

“The court of appeal’s judgment in ANPP/IGP allows for such protest or gathering without police permit or interference as in advanced democracy. The protest is said to be for and about good governance. So who is afraid of the protest. Who does the police represent or representing in this issues?

“Nigerians are hungry and angry, our currency is above N500/$.

“Nepotism, extra judicial killings, disobedience to court order and human right abuses must stop. The conscience is an open wound and the guilty is afraid.”