No ban on ‘peaceful protests,’ Presidency says
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The Nigerian government has said it will not prevent people from registering their displeasure with the state of the nation through peaceful protests.
“This administration will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests,” said Laolu Akande media aide to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo Friday on Twitter. “Tt’s a fundamental right of the people.”
1. This administration will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests, it’s a fundamental right of the people.
— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) February 3, 2017
Akande’s clarification came after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said his command would not allow the protest planned by popular artist, Innocent Idibia, also known as Tuface, to hold in any part of the state.
He said his command had received an intelligence report that criminals were planning to hijack the process to wreak havoc on 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,” he stressed.
Tuface had announced that he would a ‘massive nationwide’ protest on February 5. He later postponed the planned mass action to February 6.
He said there was a “need for Nigerians to rise against what is happening in this country having waited patiently for the legislatures that were elected to represent the people all to no avail.”
“A call for good governance,” he said. “A call for urgent explanation into the reckless economic downturn nationwide. A call for nationwide protests as we say No to the Executive, No to legislatures, No to judiciary…. You have all failed us.”
But Akande said the government has been investing in social programmes aimed at easing off the suffering of millions of Nigerians, claiming that the level of such investment has never been seen in the country.
“No government has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Programme the Buhari govt is now running across the nation that will touch millions,” he said.
2. No govt has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Prog, the Buhari govt is now running across the nation, that will touch millions
— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) February 3, 2017
With rising prices of commodities, the effects of the programmes are yet to be felt by the people. The government acknowledged this problem on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council and announced that it had set up a committee that would ensure a steady flow of produce to markets and reverse the rising food prices across Nigeria.
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12 Comments
I love the statement, Tuface should continue with his stupid protest and we will like to see the outcome,but I want to remind him that Tuface was alive during Gej six years,he was alive during Obasanjo’s eight years,now Buhari has just spent Two years and he said he is embarking on a political sponsored protest, he should go ahead or did he expect Buhari will be moved out of office? never impossible, olooto kan o le Ku si IPO oshika, God will save Buhari from the hand of enemy like Tuface,like Fayose.
Sharappp there even two weeks is enough for any good thinking leader to correct the wrong just look at what Donald Trump is doing just under two weeks.
You’re such an idiot for a human being. No society exists without a differing voice. What has government (past and present) ever done for this country? Without a social democratic movement, this country is doomed forever. You should be grateful people like 2Face are speaking out.
I think you must be an infant.
Yoruba Islam and Stockholm syndrome, Tufiakwa. All Hail Biafra
So we should wait another 4 years before we tell him things are not going well. It’s time to do what we should have done years ago – tell the government of the day that we are unhappy. Americans did not wait one week before they told Trump his travel ban was wrong. That’s how it should be.
But if it is IPOB now there will ban on protest GOD is watching
Very good one from the government, let them trust their popularity.
Uncle , am sure your ego will soon disappoint you. To you, it’s all about popularity? May people destined/ appointed to aid your success play politics with the issues of your life. Ode
Every day Nigeria is setting up committees upon committees.
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Is this so called Oladipupo also in this country? Where does he derive his reasons to commend this tiresome government of Mohamadu Buhari ? When almost everyone would want to run away from this country led by a president who has no concern for the welfare of the citizenry somebody still has cause to pour on him accolades. I’m sorry for you.
You are free to relocate to Benin, Togo , Cameroon, 152 other countries. You are nobody anyway
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