Tension as joint security forces parade Ibadan

• Osun govt holds peace meeting with stakeholders
• Harps on peaceful demonstration
• OPC urges Tinubu, organisers of protest to dialogue

The Ojoo Roundabout in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, was heavily militarised, yesterday, with well-armed security agents, which include the army, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC), armed officials of Amotekun among others, all strategically positioned.

The atmosphere was tensed as residents were seen making hurried purchase of food items and other valuables in preparation for the protest.

Efforts by The Guardian to speak with one of the leaders of the security agents were rebuffed as they simply directed the reporter to speak with higher authorities for necessary inquiries.

In another development, the late Dr Frederick Faseun faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu and organisers of the nationwide protest, to enter into a dialogue instead of throwing Nigerians into another round of economic hardship should the protest hold.

President of the Congress, Wasiu Afolabi, while highlighting the economic hardship Nigerians currently suffer in the face of reforms by the government of Tinubu, said there is need for immediate reversal of the increased electricity tariffs and reduction of food and fuel prices as a goodwill gesture.

MEANWHILE, the Osun State Government has held a peace meeting with stakeholders with a view to forestall possible crisis during the protest billed to commence tomorrow, August 1, 2024.

The meeting, held at the State Secretariat, Abere, with top state government functionaries in attendance, was presided over by the Deputy Governor of the state, Kola Adewusi, and some service chiefs, security personnel from various security outfits, various civil society organisations, as well as different youth groups, among others.

Adewusi, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ademola Adeleke, harped on peaceful protest.

He, therefore, admonished the prospective protesters to do away with any nefarious activity that may mar the positive result that the protest was meant for.

In his earlier remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said that state government called for the meeting to dialogue on the modalities of the protest against the backdrop of mischievously-misinterpreted narrative in some quarters that the state government is trying to buy the conscience of the prospective protesters.

Also, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Umar.Abba Muhammed, commended the governor for his swift response to the sensitive issues of protest.

Muhammed, however, called on the prospective protesters to act within the ambit of the law by having defined routes, as well as avoiding hijack of the protest by miscreants.

On their part, Commander of ECC, Ede, Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Abdul Karim, and Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Ayoola Kehinde, emphasised the need for protesters to stay within the law and the right to peaceful protest.

ALSO, a civil rights group, Liberty Movement of Nigeria (LMN), has asked Nigerians to be patient with the government over plans for a public protest.

Convener of the civil rights group, Olusola Ajayi Edward, said unforeseen circumstances and Fifth Columnists might deliberately push the planned peaceful protest to the path of violence and defeat its noble intentions.