Organisers of the October 1 nationwide protest tagged “#FearlessinOctober” have announced that all is now set.
The protest is aimed at addressing issues such as the high cost of governance, the high cost of electricity, high interest rates, insecurity of lives and property, non-payment of pension obligations, debt slavery for higher education, starvation wages for workers, grand corruption, and the criminalisation of protests.
Other demands by the organisers include the re-nationalization of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and electricity distribution companies.
Speaking in an interview, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said mobilisation efforts have begun.
He added that a letter has been sent to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting security for the protesters.
Sanyaolu said, “Preparations remain on top gear. Nigerians are mobilising from different parts of the country. We have also written to the Inspector General of Police, informing him of our protest locations, reminding him of the constitutional duty of the police to protect protesters as opposed to the repression we have witnessed in times past.”
He added that the only way to stop the protest was for the present administration to meet their demands.
Sanyaolu said, “The only way the Tinubu regime can avoid or ‘ensure the protest does not hold’ is to address the demands of the Nigerian people, reverse the fuel hike, release all arrested protesters, and end the biting inflation in the country.”
Police Spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, declined comment when contacted.
The Director of Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, did not pick up calls and was yet to respond to the message sent to him regarding the protest.
But a signal from the police, sighted by reporters, indicated that the IGP directed Commissioners of Police across the country to engage organisers.
The signal with Ref: DTO: 261604/09/2024, 0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.T9/395 X SECURITY GENERAL X RE: CB read, “The IG has ordered you to continue to engage in meetings/dialogue with the leadership of identified groups to dissuade them from the planned protest.
“Deploy covert operatives to all nooks and crannies for intelligence gathering/sharing. All necessary measures should be taken, particularly during the independence celebrations, to ensure nothing untoward is allowed.”
Any attempt by miscreants/hoodlums to engage in the destruction of lives and property should be promptly resisted. CPs should direct officers/men to be on red alert, maintaining well-kitted standby men at command headquarters, area commands, and divisional headquarters to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
