For the government of President Bola Tinubu, the worst fears may be over. Some State Governors in the south are already patting themselves on the back for successes recorded in managing the protesters. Their counterparts in the north are still having sleepless nights because of the unpredictable nature of their residents. The north has suffered
For the government of President Bola Tinubu, the worst fears may be over. Some State Governors in the south are already patting themselves on the back for successes recorded in managing the protesters. Their counterparts in the north are still having sleepless nights because of the unpredictable nature of their residents. The north has suffered more from looting and destruction of government and private property in the last 48 hours.
Many things changed with this protest on both sides. The protesters changed their strategy, using social media to mobilise citizens. Until about 48 hours before its commencement, many Nigerians could not put faces to the call for the protests. It was when the Nigerian Police wanted to offer protection for the organisers and requested them to step forward that some of the sponsors became known. They, however, had chosen popular themes that the people could relate to like hunger, the return of fuel subsidy, reducing the cost of governance, and arresting the general hardships in the land.
On the government’s part, massive mobilisation was embarked upon with the President hosting different groups of people at the Aso Rock villa. They range from traditional rulers to religious leaders, student leaders, ethnic nationalities leaders, and so on, making a case to be allowed some more time to allow its reform agenda to take root and bear fruits. When all that didn’t strike the right chord, some State governments went in search of Court Orders to restrict the protests to certain venues in their States. This appears to be a masterstroke as it destabilised the organiser’s intention of street protests which would have been more effective.
On Day 1, the restrictions posed a big challenge to the protesters in Lagos and Abuja. The protesters sought ways of circumventing the order, especially in Abuja where they refused to stay inside the stadium as contained in the order with one of the leaders of the protesters saying the order did not specify that they should be inside the stadium and that they were gathered at the stadium. They, however, had an excuse to exit the stadium when their ranks were infiltrated by pro-government protesters who were brought to the stadium with several Toyota Coast luxurious buses. That was the turning point that led to some violence and confrontation between the protesters and security men.
The protests were largely successful and peaceful in Lagos and most of the southern States in the early hours of the first day, until tension grew gradually. The same could not be said about the north where the turnout was massive but equally violent in some states like Kaduna and Kano States. Kano state Governor Abba confirmed that the peaceful protests in Kano were disrupted by hired thugs.
According to Omoyele Sowore on his X handle: “It was established that a former state governor wreaked mayhem in Kano yesterday. (Gandollar), Alhadji Ganduje, Chairman of the APC, hired and brought thugs from outside the state, and his contingent was allowed by the Police to move freely.
It was also alleged that some supporters of the deposed Emir Bayero, and APC caused Kano violence, and not protesters. Nigeria Police have arrested and have been parading protesters in Kano. The government relaxed the 24-hour curfew on Friday allowing for five hours to allow Muslims to attend the Jumat service.
Deaths of Policemen and Protesters
A police officer was said to have run over his colleague with a police van and ended up killing him in Katsina State. Borno State government imposed an indefinite curfew to avoid further infiltration by nonstate actors because Boko Haram attacked a village killing 16 persons and members of the group had infiltrated the ranks of genuine protesters. To avoid further infiltration by non-state actors.
There were heavy protests in Gwargwaje in Zaria, on Friday in Kaduna State. And, in Jos Plateau State protesters took to the streets in large numbers. Nasarawa was equally troubled while Niger and Benue were hotbeds for the protesters. There were protests in Zamfara state. Men of the Nigerian Police could be seen firing teargas at protesters at Berger underbridge, in Abuja.
Police Harass Journalists in Abuja
Police officers in Abuja were seen in a video arresting a journalist, even though he was telling them that he was a journalist with his means of identification. The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT-Abuja chapter was allegedly arrested.
The journalist who was arrested by the policemen in Abuja was later released. Recounting his ordeal, he said: “We were coming from the Moshood Abiola stadium and upon getting the Eagle Square covering the protest. The FCT Commissioner of Police Benneth Igwe asked the policemen to arrest us, the journalists. Since I didn’t commit any crime, he collected my mobile phone. It took the intervention of other journalists around who told him this was the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists. I don’t know why the Police are trying to suppress press freedom while we are carrying out our constitutional duty. This is unfair”, he said.
Wike Accuses Senator of Sponsorship of Protests
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike had accused a Senator of sponsoring the protests in Abuja for allegedly offering them water and refreshments. “That is sponsorship. A senator providing food for protesters. At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day.
It is believed that the Minister was referring to Senator Ireti Kingibe of the FCT. The allegation has been vehemently refuted by the Senator who said she was under the weather and that a video in circulation was for an old event.
Governor Duoye Diri Accuses Timiprye Sylva of Sponsoring Protests in Bayelsa
Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State on Friday accused his major opponent in the 2023 governorship election, Mr Timiprye Sylva of the APC of masterminding and organising the protests in Bayelsa State for political reasons.
The Governor said some politicians who failed the 2023 governorship election in the state are trying to pitch the people against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government using hunger protest.
Meanwhile, the elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have knocked the state Governor, Douye Diri, for accusing Chief Timipre Sylva, the state’s party Leader and former Petroleum Minister (State), of sponsoring the planned nationwide protest in the state.
The elders alleged that Diri worked for and heavily sponsored the PDP and his direct boss, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during the last election adding that the Bayelsa governor did everything within his power to truncate the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Lagos State
There was drama at the Ojota venue for the protests as the end bad governance protesters refused to go into the Gani Fawehinmi park because they alleged that the place had been infiltrated by hired thugs some of whom threatened to beat them up. The crowd of protesters on Friday was smaller than the number that participated on Thursday. It is generally believed that protest fatigue could set in and the demonstration may not be able to go through the whole hog of 10 days.
Pro Bono Lawyers Secure Bail for 12 Protesters
Inibehe Effiong, activist and Lawyer said on Friday that the “team of pro bono lawyers under the auspices of LAWYERS FOR RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS have just secured the release of 12 protesters who were arrested by the police at the Lekki Toll Gate and other parts of Lagos.
“Most of them were grabbed by thugs at the Toll Gate and handed over to the police. We met with the Commissioner of Police earlier today at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and complained about the ongoing arbitrary arrest of protesters in Lagos.
“The CP then directed us to Panti where the protesters were detained and instructed the DCP, Panti to release them. The protesters were accordingly released to me and my colleagues.
“We are also making efforts to help detained protesters in other States and the FCT.”
NAMES OF PROTESTERS RELEASED FROM DETENTION AT SCIID, PANTI ON 2/8/2024:
1. Labe Benedict
2. Nura Umar
3. Yaro Gazama
4. Joseph Jeremiah
5. Osinachi Udoeze
6. Ayodele Ajayi
7. Godwin Moloku
8. Adelokun Wasiu
9. Precious Alfred
10. Yahaya Mohammed
11. Otika Victor
12. Ndukwe Ogbonnaya
