2Face Idibia’s planned protest: We ‘ll arrest him, if… – Police

The Nigerian Police, yesterday, said it would not allow the anti-government protest planned by popular music star, Innocent Idibia, (2Face Idibia) to hold in Lagos, just as Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose; lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa; among other Nigerians, insisted that Nigerians have a right to freedom of expression.

The popular Afro-Pop artiste, 2Face Idibia, had earlier in the week, called for the support of his fans and colleagues via his social media platforms to join his march against the crippling economic state of the nation. The protest is slated for February 6, 2017.

2face In a video posted on his Facebook account on Tuesday, 2Face urged Nigerians to come out in a “peaceful and articulate manner” for the march, adding that “the need for urgent solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians has become very clear. Things are not getting better for the majority, we are still where we are, poor and desperate.

I will no longer be quiet.” The group coordinating the protest, @EiENigeria, wrote in its Twitter handle: “In view of the latest police update, how do we proceed with the march? Protest continues as planned.

#IStandWiithNigeria.

Our leaders owe us their ears too and they must hear us. This march is about connecting the government with the citizens.”

We ‘ll arrest him, if… - Police

But the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the command will not let the protest hold in the metropolis.  Owoseni said intelligence reports indicates that criminals might hijack the process to wreak havoc in Lagos.

He said: “Information reaching us revealed that some hoodlums are planning to hijack the peaceful protest and at such, we won’t allow it to hold in Lagos. 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,” Owoseni said.

According to him, “no matter how good an intention is, hoodlums would always find a way to harass, rob and attack innocent members of the public who may wish to go about their lawful duties. Owoseni had earlier said, the protest planners have not officially notified the police of their plan, stressing that the police encourage civil society groups to inform the force anytime they want to stage a protest because of their safety and that of others, as hoodlums seize such medium to perpetrate evil.

The Police, however, threatened to arrest the singer if he dares hold the protest. Fayose, Adegboruwa react Reacting to Owoseni’s position, Governor Fayose reminded the commissioner that “the duty of the police to secure Nigerians is mandatory, not optional.

Therefore, if there is any intelligence report suggesting the possibility of criminals hijacking the process, it is the duty of the police to provide security cover for the protesters.” In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose noted that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government must be made to understand that leadership is about accountability and to be accountable, leaders must listen to public opinion either by civil or peaceful protest.”

In a statement by its Vice President, Dr Joy Tobin, the group said some members of the organisation will march with Nigerians in Lagos while others will be in  Port Harcourt.

It said, “The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a functioning democracy,”  warning the Nigerian Police not to interfere with a peaceful protest,  adding that even the Police in U.S wouldn’t dare stop peaceful protesters.

“Within the space of a little more than a year, Nigeria’s story has turned full circle from an economy lauded as the largest on the continent with potentials to grow further to one enmeshed in its worst economic crisis in 25 years.

Now, the economy has officially died and the government is cash-strapped with 27 states owing workers and pensioners backlog of wages. “This is in addition to about two million workers and pensioners starving because their wages and benefits are not being paid on time while prices of goods in the market have gone to high heavens.

All these are due to bad government policies. “We can’t keep quite anymore.