Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Lagos State has reminded the planners of the October 1 protest that its order restricting protesters to two parks subsisted.
The government told the protest organisers that it would not fold its hands and watch social and economic activities in the state disrupted by anyone or groups.
Already, the Police have reinforced security across the state ahead of the planned protest which the National Association of University Students (NAUS) has distanced its members from.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), told reporters yesterday that the demonstration planners needed to know that the government had not changed its mind on the fact that only Freedom Ojota and Peace Parks in Ketu designated places for protests.
Pedro clarified that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was not opposed to any group of residents expressing their views about any government through public protest. He said that such expression must be done within the confines of the law.
The protest organisers had on Thursday stated that the demonstrators would by 7 am gather at Ikeja Under Bridge where they would march through various streets to raise awareness on what they described as ‘anti-poor policies’ of the Federal Government.
They also requested the state Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, to provide adequate security for all protesters in line with the Police Establishment Act 2020.
But Pedro: “We have and shall continue to engage the civil societies and NGOs(Non-Govermental organisations) in Lagos who are genuinely interested in the development of the state to explain and enlighten them that the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is not opposed to any group of residents expressing their views about any government by way of public protest as it is their fundamental right guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
“However, the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, association and assembly is not absolute and by virtue of section 45, section 215 (4) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and section 4 & 10(2) of the Police Act, it is lawful for the governor of Lagos State or the Attorney- General on his behalf to give the Commissioner of Police directive for maintenance and securing of public safety and public order that may impact on the exercise of these fundamental rights.”
Pedro insisted that the government would not permit any street protest that can be hijacked by criminal elements.
He said: “In that respect, we advise that the organisers should utilise the designated venues in the state for public protest to wit; Freedom Park and Peace Park for adequate protection and coverage of the protest by members of the press.
“It is the same set or group of people that organised the last protest that is planning the October 1 protest, so they should be guided by the interim preservative order of injunction of court restricting public protest in the state to designated venues for the purpose.
“More so a substantive action is pending in court against them wherein an order of Interlocutory and perpetual injunction are being sought to permanently restrict any person or group of persons that wish to organise public protest in Lagos State to do so at designated venues.
“It is a settled principle of law that a defendant who is aware of a pending claim or application for injunction against him in a court of law, has an obligation to respect the court process and not engage in the same act sought to be restrained. Therefore whether the interim preservative order is subsisting or not, by the subsisting suit, it will be unlawful for anybody, civil society or NGO in Lagos to convene any public protest outside the designated venue.
“They should use the designated venues for their protest so that adequate security protection and traffic management can be provided for them to exercise their recognised fundamental right to freedom of speech, association and assembly without fear of the protest being hijacked and turned violent as experienced during the #End SARS protest. The last EndBadGovernance protest in Lagos was violence-free and successful because it was held in designated venues for public protest in the state
“I believe that if the real intention and plans of the organisers of the protest is to air their views and resentment against government policies and hunger in the land, making use of the designated venue will not be prejudicial to them unless of course they have a different and hidden agenda.
“I would also advise a rethink of the idea of taking over the streets of Lagos for the purpose of the protest bearing in mind that the fundamental rights of other people not interested in the protest should not be infringed upon and that the properties or businesses of other people may be destroyed if the protest is hijacked on the streets.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
