Men and officers of the Nigeria Police on Thursday stormed the premises of Airport Hotel on Obafemi Awolowo Road, disrupting the press conference scheduled for the venue by a group, Free Lagos Orange Movement, a coalition of political parties and civil society organisations led by Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, groups, including the pan- Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, among others.
The policemen, armed to the teeth and led by a senior policewoman, arrived the venue in about six patrol vehicles and one black maria belonging to the State Task Force, were said to have ordered the blockade of all the two gates leading to the hotel and preventing people from gaining access to the Oranmiyan Hall where the press conference was to hold.
Scores of people, who had come for the event in about five fully-loaded BRT buses, were stranded at the gate as they were prevented from entering, while those already sitting inside, including journalists, were not allowed to come out, a development which put a temporary halt to the event tagged: “World Press Conference #Otoge Lagos Setting Lagos from Bourdillon Bondage.”
While the people were still agitating and protesting the police siege, an eye witness told our correspondent that a set of thugs belonging to a rival party came and started throwing stones, broken bottles, leading the police to start firing several tear gas shots into the air to dispatch the crowd.
While the firing lasted, people on the Obafemi Awolowo Road ran helter-skelter, including journalists and others that were locked within the Airport Hotel.
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As calm finally returned, Comrade Mark Adebayo, finally took time to address the few people that gathered at the hall, but as he was just ending his prepared speech, with the theme: “Setting Lagos Free From Bourdillon Bondage,” the police stormed the hall this time around to order everyone out, while they subsequently ordered Adebayo to immediately report for questing at the State Police Headquarters at Ikeja.
Speaking at the press conference, Comrade Adebayo, while decrying the violence that characterised the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23rd in some parts of the state and the one- man rule by the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said it was time for Lagosians to break the chain as freedom was prosperity.
According to him, Lagosians were not so stupid and ignorant to allow one man to manipulate and maltreat them the way things had been, saying such situation had been made possible because the people had been sleeping for too long and all had been collectively guilty.
“We welcome you to this historic occasion born out of the collective realisation of common yearning for freedom from arrogant domination, unprecedented corruption, dictatorial manipulations and the unconscionable commandeering of Lagos State’s commonwealth by the Bourdillon power cultists who have turned Lagos, it’s people and treasury into a family heritage of the Tinubu’s for twenty agonizing years.
“Are we so stupid and ignorant in Lagos to allow one man to manipulate and maltreat us this way? The clear answer is resounding No.
“Dear Lagosians, we’re neither stupid nor ignorant. But we have been sleeping for too long. We’re collectively guilty of criminal slumber.
“This is the time to break the chain because freedom is prosperity. Our lives and livelihood depend on it. The future of our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren yet unborn depends on the struggle.
“So Lagosians, Enough is Enough, Lagosians arise and shine. Liberate yourselves from the iron grip of one man.
“Stand up and free yourselves and your future from the captivity of a roguish system of power succession that lacks basic respect for the free choice of leadership,” Adebayo said.
Speaking on the untoward incident that characterised the last Saturday’s polls, Adebayo said the problem prevented many voters from exercising their civic rights as they were intimidated by those he called agents of the ruling APC, declaring that the
development was not good for democracy as it threatened the emergence of the choices of the people.
He, therefore, urged residents to use their PVCs to vote for “freedom, justice and development on March 9.”
“Vote for freedom! Vote for justice! Vote for peace! Vote for development! Vote to liberate yourselves! he charged.
Policemen are still keeping guard at the hotel as of the time of filing this report.
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