In a statement by its coordinator, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, the group informed the governor and his government that they must bear responsibility for the movement of protesters from several designations in Lagos to and from Peace Park in Ketu and Gani Fawehinmi Justice Park in Ojota in Lagos.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A pro-democracy group, Take It Back Movement, Lagos State chapter has slammed Governor Baabajide Sanwo-Olu for the state’s abuse of judicial privilege to stifle freedom of association through the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
In a statement by its coordinator, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, the group informed the governor and his government that they must bear responsibility for the movement of protesters from several designations in Lagos to and from Peace Park in Ketu and Gani Fawehinmi Justice Park in Ojota in Lagos.
A Lagos High Court on Tuesday granted an exparte application filed by the state’s Attorney General, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro seeking to restrict the proposed nationwide protest, in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare granted the order, restricting the protesters from converging and carrying out the proposed protests in Lagos from Aug 1-10 except at the two approved locations from 8 am to 6 pm.
The TIB Movement, in a statement released after an emergency meeting following the new development, designated seven convergence points for participating citizens. They are “Alausa Secretariat, Lekki Toll Gates, Ikorodu Bus Park, Okota Link Bridge, LASU Campus gates, Iyana Ipaja Underbridge and Agege Pen Cinema.”
The organisation however asked the governor to provide “clean, safe and air conditioned buses” to transport protesters from the convergence points to the two locations approved by the state for the protest.
The statement partly read: “It has come to the attention of the Take It Back Movement in Lagos state that your Attorney General surreptitiously obtained a court order designating and restricting protesters for #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria to two locations in the Lagos Metropolis.
“At the same time, we frown at this abuse of judicial privilege to stifle freedom of association.
“The movement at an emergency meeting wishes to inform you that since this was your administration’s decision, you must bear responsibility for the movement of protesters from several designations in Lagos to and from Peace Park in Ketu and Gani Fawehinmi Justice Park in Ojota in Lagos.
“Some of the designated convergence points for participating citizens include: Alausa Secretariat, Lekki Toll Gates, Ikorodu Bus Park, Okota Link Bridge, LASU Campus gates, Iyana Ipaja Under bridge and Agege Pen Cinema.”
The group, however, noted that the government will be informed of other locations designated convergence points for protesters in the state.
“The buses to be provided must be clean, safe and air-conditioned.
The buses must arrive at this designated arrears as early as 6 a.m. and return protesters to their convergence points at 6 p.m. every night between August 1st and 10th, 2024.”
It reminded the state authorities that the protest days may drag beyond 10 days, advising that the government should make contingency plans for the “dusting of these actions”.
It warned, “Your failure to provide buses for the protesters means they (protesters) would begin march/walk to the court designated parks in the city on a daily basis for the duration of the #EndBadGovernance direct actions.
“Finally, be informed that there will be rallies and processions throughout the #EndBadGovernance actions, so your bus operators are advised to find and park at a safe distance from the areas designated by protesters for these activities.”