CITIZENS COMPASS—There was confusion yesterday, following an alleged postponement of the planned nationwide protests scheduled for today, August 1, 2024.
The alleged fake news of the protest postponement was circulating in social media.
The fake news which had the letterhead of TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT was captioned, “ NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF PLANNED PROTEST “
It read in parts, “Due to prevailing security threats conditions, we the Organizers of #endbadgovernance and hunger protest can no longer guarantee the security and lives of those who will come out tomorrow.
“In the light of the difficult decision to postpone the #endbadGovernance protest to October 1.
“The safety of our citizens is paramount and we cannot compromise on that, we will continue to monitor the situation and work towards a peaceful and secure protest on the new date.”
The suspected fake news was signed by Damilare Adenola as Director of Mobilisation with phone number 09037506418.
However, a counter-statement was seen in circulation with Red mark on the suspected document instructing that the protest would hold, “PLEASE, A FAKE STATEMENT IN CIRCULATION CLAIMING TO BE FROM “DAMILARE ADENOLA” WAS ISSUED BY THE @officialABAT REGIME OFFICIALS AND DESPICABLE SECURITY AGENCIES IN ABUJA IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DEMOBILIZE NIGERIANS. PLEASE NOTE, THE HISTORIC#EndBadGovernace #DaysOpostponementT WILL COMMENCE TOMORROW AUGUST 1ST 2024. #NoGoingBack #RevolutionNow
Meanwhile, the Ogun State High Court on Wednesday ordered the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests to limit their activities to four locations in the state.
The court also restricted the time frame of the protests to between 8 am and 5 pm.
Granting an application moved by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), Justice O. Ogunfowora directed that all protests under the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria slogan or any other slogan from 1 August 2024 to 10 August 2024 must be limited in place and time.
The judge prohibited the protesters from protesting anywhere in the state except at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
The Attorney-General explained that the four locations are across the four divisions of the state in the three senatorial districts, allowing protesters in those vicinities to conveniently participate in the protests under adequate protection and without infringing on the rights of any non-protesting members of the public.
The judge, in his ruling, also prohibited any protest from taking place outside the hours of 8 am to 5 pm.
The judge further directed the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State to enforce the order and ensure that the protests are held only in the specified locations and during the time periods stated in the order.
The judge declared that the order would last for seven days and ordered the State to serve the application on notice within that period.
Justice Ogunfowora shortened the time for the protesters to respond to the application to 72 hours.
The case was adjourned to 6 August 2024.
