Jitters as Organisers Insist on Independence Day Protest

By Adedapo Adesanya

Organisers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have declared that the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military would not stop them from embarking on the demonstration as planned.

They have written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to request security during the procession, noting that protest remains a fundamental right and will not submit to any state agent.

This comes as recent protests have come with police reportedly arresting and shooting at protesters in Lagos and Abuja.

Nigeria will celebrate its 64th independence on Tuesday, October 1 (tomorrow).

However, some Nigerian youths have taken to the day to protest the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

On its part, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Mr Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation of the group, Mr Damilare Adenola, said mobilisation efforts had begun, adding that Nigerians were mobilising from different parts of the country for the protest.

“We have also written to the Inspector General of Police, informing him of our protest locations and reminding him of the constitutional duty of the police to protect protesters as opposed to the repression we have witnessed in times past,” said Mr Sanyaolu.

In Lagos, the protest organisers plan to commence their march at the Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30 am

On his part, activist and politician, Mr Yele Sowere, said a peaceful nationwide protest will be held at Eagles Square Abuja.

Giving an update, he said — “The protests will hold across all parts of Nigeria because the scale of the devastation, hunger, insecurity, and hardship that this government has unleashed on Nigerians is national. I will emphasise again that these will be peaceful protests, as they’ve always been.

“The last protests were peaceful, yet the government met the protesters with batons and bullets.

“We will not be deterred, though. Our only weapon is truth, and no amount of force or violence will prevent us from speaking truth to power.”

“Between the last protest just two months ago and now, petrol prices have risen by almost N300 per litre. The naira has further devalued, and prices have increased in the market. Bandits have taken over and killed off entire communities. Floods are devastating our cities.

“Under these circumstances, can anyone be surprised that the Nigerian people want to voice their displeasure with this government’s failure to address the issues affecting them?

“We are prepared to come out to protest. We are determined to do so peacefully. I can assure you that thousands of voices will be raised in protest on October 1.

“The pangs of hunger and groans of the pain of the Nigerian people will not be drowned out by the government,” he said during an interview session shared on his handle.