In continuation of his engagements with various groups and stakeholders ahead of the planned nationwide protests, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday met with civil society and self-determination groups to discuss the need for peace in Lagos State.

This is as the planned nationwide hunger and hardship protest slated to be held from August 1 draws closer.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday, on X, the governor told the civil rights groups that the state government is not averse to citizens’ right to express themselves, however, it must be done lawfully.

He urged the CSOs to ensure that the protesters were peaceful and orderly.

Sanwo-Olu spoke against the wanton destruction of public and private property as the state experienced during the October 2020 protest.

He noted that some individuals issuing threats might have ulterior motives aimed at disrupting law and order.

Submit Your Names, Details To Police, IGP Tells Protesters

Police authorities are requesting the details of the demonstrators ahead of the protest.

While briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, specifically asked all groups planning to participate in the demonstrations to submit their details to the commissioners of police in their respective states.

The reason he gave was that the protest was peaceful.

“We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest,” the police boss said.

“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.

“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.”

The IG added that the information expected from the organisers also includes measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.

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Hijacking

Worried by the possibility of the protest being hijacked by criminal elements, the IGP explained that the police authorities needed the necessary information also to identify potential troublemakers.

He reiterated the police’s determination to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety, saying the Force needs to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.

The IGP also released other guidelines to the protesters, which were to “establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.

“We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.”

No Love For Nigeria

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu weighed in on the planned nationwide protests, saying that sponsors of the demonstrations do not love the country.

Though he did not identify any sponsor, he said those championing the cause of the protests have alternative passports and hold meetings virtually worldwide.

“The sponsors of protests do not love our country. They have no love for the nation. They do not understand citizenship. They have alternative passports,” Tinubu spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau.

“They are in different parts of the world holding meetings virtually. We do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan. We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful. We should be careful with premature politics; politics of hate, and anger.

“The internet has made it possible to hold meetings in artificial settings. They hold meetings and sponsor anger,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.

President Tinubu argued that protests, fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence and set the country backwards.