Pro-Govt Protesters Hold March Against August Protest In Lagos
Pro-government protesters on Monday held a counter-rally in Lagos State against the planned August 1 nationwide protest.
THE WHISTLER reports that the planned nationwide protest tagged “End Bad Government in Nigeria”, is scheduled to hold from August 1-10, 2024.
The planned protest is gaining traction nationwide. The organisers in flyers circulating on social media are demanding judicial reform, a declaration of a state of emergency on inflation, reopening of the national borders, among others.
But the pro-government protesters carrying banners with the inscription “Say No To Protest”, expressed their support to President Bola Tinubu’s led Federal Government.
The protesters who came from different parts of the state and converged in the Lagos Island area of the state, called on the youth to “shun violent protest.”
Monday’s protest is coming less than 24 hours after some youths under the aegis of Indigenous Youth Network, comprising young people and youth groups from all the five traditional divisions in Lagos, at a press briefing on Sunday, accused those planning to protest of having hidden intention to unleash terror in the state under the guise of the protest.
Led by Mobolaji Ogunlende from Badagry Division, the youth said they were not opposed to citizens exercising their fundamental rights to demonstrate peacefully whenever they were not satisfied with any policy of the government, but vowed to defend their heritage against any form of violence during the planned protest.
Ogunlende said: “We, the Lagos Indigenous Youths Network, stand before you today to reflect on our progress as a State and express concern over the planned protest in Lagos. While we acknowledge the fundamental right to protest, we believe it must be constructive and in the best interest of the people.
“We are not against the citizens constructively engaging their leaders when it is crucial but the moment when such engagement becomes a platform for tension and warmongering sponsored for political scores, then it is time to call for caution. This is what we have observed.
“Intelligence gathered reveals that the planned protest is politically motivated and not in the interest of Lagosians, who are peace-loving and hardworking. We are coming together to defend our heritage and State against any possible destruction by agents of violence masquerading as lovers of the people.”
He recalled the violence that trailed the EndSARS protests of 2020, adding that the state was yet to recover from the incident.
