CITIZENS COMPASS –The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, and other stakeholders in the state’s security architecture, are currently brainstorming ahead of the planned protests on August 1.
The stakeholders called on youths and protesters to shun violence.
This took place on Thursday during a town hall meeting, which the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) attended, convened to deliberate on the protest called by yet to be identified individuals scheduled to hold across the nation from August 1 against hardship.
The meeting themed ‘Enhancing Community Engagement And Participation in Fostering Peace, Unity in Lagos’ held at the POWA Hall, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
In his opening remarks, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, urged parents to talk to their children, most especially, the youths to shelve the planned protest and allow peace which has been enjoyed in Lagos to continue.
Ogunlende further stated that as citizens, everybody has a right to protest, but when it can’t be controlled or the identity of those behind the protest cannot be ascertained, then it becomes a problem, and there should not be a protest instead.
“Anytime a protest is being talked about, it’s always centered around the youths. This is because youths occupy a larger percentage of the population.” He added that the protest is about hardship and doesn’t affect only the youths, but entire citizens of the nation.
The governor also commended the security agencies led by the CP Adegoke Fayoade for being proactive as opposed to being reactive, saying that “This shows that every single person in this hall has decided to take responsibility for what’s coming ahead irrespective of the outcome,” Ogunlende said.
He added: “It should be noted, everybody is taking responsibility, ownership and rising to the occasion because Lagos is our home, and we can’t afford to let anything happen to our home, which is the reason for gathering here to ensure all necessary steps are taken by each and everyone. It’s pertinent we remain peaceful, because united we stand, divided we fall. If we all come together to face an issue, I am sure, there will be peace at the end of the day.”
In his remarks, CP Fayoade Adegoke stated that the present situation in the country shouldn’t warrant protest which could lead to disorderliness, breakdown of law and peace, which these security agencies do not want in Lagos State.
According to him, Lagos is unarguably the economic hub of West Africa Sub Region and economic center of Nigeria, and if protest is allowed, it is going to affect Nigeria economically, socially, and Lagosians believe in peaceful co-existence, with everybody doing his business without molestation or harassment. We won’t allow anyone to disturb the peaceful co-existence enjoyed in Lagos, he said.
Also speaking, Director, Department of State Security, Lagos, Dapo Amoo, said, “you can criticise the government, you can criticize establishment, the question about the protest is, they said, they intend to have a peaceful protest, but how do you determine it’s going to come out peacefully. That’s the question we should all ask ourselves.”
He recalled what happened during the #EndSars protest, as Lagos most especially struggled to get out of the nostrils of that skirmish.
He noted that the government has appealed to the youths to further exercise patience, as good things do not come easily, adding that the government has begun the process by increasing workers’ salaries.
The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)in the state, Comrade Funmi Sessi, expressed her dissatisfaction about the protest, according to her, “this is Lagos’, I was born and bred in Lagos, many of us made money in Lagos, and take it out to other states, we enjoy government in the state. If you want to protest, go to the state where governance is not felt and express your grievances.
“As we talk now, many of the states could not even afford to pay the last N30,000 minimum wage, yet Lagos is ready to pay new minimum wage of N70,000. Let Lagos be free, this is about me as a born and bred Lagosian, free Lagos,” she concluded.
Also adding his voice, Chief Imam, Conference of Islamic Organization, Shikrullah Shafii, urged the government to ensure reduction in the prices of commodities, this according to him, is not just about increase in salary of workers, but having value for the increased salaries.
The security agencies and Stakeholders that attended the meeting included the Nigeria Police, Navy, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp, Department of State Security, Air Force, Nigeria Labour Congress, National Association of Nigeria Students, Muslim-Christian clerics, as well as representatives of chairpersons of local governments and bank executives.
