Ahead of the planned nationwide protests slated for August, security chiefs and stakeholders in Oyo state have called for peaceful demonstrations, warning against violence, public disturbance and infringement on people’s rights.
This follows the meeting of security chiefs and stakeholders at the House of Chiefs, Parliament building, Secretariat, Ibadan.
At the Forum, Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde said the planned protest is permitted under the law as long as it is peaceful.
“We’ve not come here to say that people should not exercise their fundamental right to peaceful demonstrations. But don’t trample on the rights of the people of Oyo state who want to go about their lawful business.”
Governor Makinde, who spoke through the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni called on organizers of the planned protest to carefully guide the event against disruption of economic activities, criminality and vandalization.
“This [meeting] is an ongoing interaction and a deliberation of security heads under the guidance of the state governor. The essence of it is basically to look at what are those things we need to do to get ourselves prepared.”
“We don’t want business activities to be hindered. We always want a situation where people are able to go about their lawful endeavors unhindered.”
Governor Makinde called for synergy between security agencies and enjoined citizens to make use of the security emergency number 615 in case of any security breaches.
The Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi represented by DCP Operation, Akinade Adejobi noted that there are dangers inherent in violent protest.
“The message is that people must ensure they are not violent. People have the right to come out and express their grievances, but it must be peaceful.”
“Part of what we discussed here today is the assurance that we are going to collaborate and work with them [the demonstrators] to ensure the protest is not hijacked.”
Mr Sonubi said that security agencies would start patrolling major roads in the state from July 28, as part of measures to maintain peace across the state.
“We have embarked on the patrol of environs. Before the protest proper, security agencies in Oyo state will come out to do joint convoy patrol to give people assurance that their lives and properties will be protected during the protest.”
The Oyo state chairman Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON,Mr Sikiru Sanda, promised that the security stakeholders’ meeting would be replicated in their respective council areas.
Others who spoke at the meeting urged parents to caution their children against engaging in violent protest.
Stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).
Others were representatives of Nigeria Immigration Service; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Amotekun Corps; local government chairmen across the state, bankers’ forum, market leaders, transport unions and community leaders.
The demonstrations planned for 1 August are to protest against the nationwide cost-of-living and economic hardship in the country. The protest is expected to hold across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
