Sanwo-Olu Holds Executive Council Meeting Amid Hunger Protest
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, presided over the State Executive Council meeting.
This was disclosed by Jubril Gawat, Special Adviser on New Media to the governor.
Although the details of the meeting which held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, is yet to be disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
The protesters are demanding reversal of the petrol subsidy, which was removed by President Bola Tinubu; opening of the national borders, taming of inflation, among others.
Meanwhile, some suspected thugs forced protesters marching on the streets of Alausa off the streets on Monday.
It was gathered that the thugs who were wielding sticks, machetes and other weapons dispersed the protesters around 12:00pm
Security operatives who were said to be on ground reportedly looked away while the protesters scampered for safety..
A Lagos High Court had last Tuesday granted an exparte application filed by the state’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, seeking to restrict the nationwide protest in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.
In a statement, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the command was in receipt of the court order and would implement it.
“…the Command is in receipt of an order from a court of competent jurisdiction restricting peaceful public protest, rallies, procession and meetings to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road, Ojota Lagos and Peace Park, Ketu, Lagos from 8am to 6pm on 1st – 10th August, 3024. The Nigeria Police Force, as a law enforcement agency, shall duly enforce this order.
“To this end, the Command hereby assures everyone willing to join in the proposed protests that maximum security will be provided at the indicated locations. Intending protesters are, therefore, advised to abide by these security arrangements as they have been mapped out to ensure zero breakdown of law and order and ensure proper optimization of human and operational resources, effective coordination of security, and prevention of hijack of the protests,” he advised.
The state government on Sunday disclosed that it would engage leaders of the protest.
To this end, Sanwo-Olu directed the Ministry of Youth and Social Development; Ministry of Information and Strategy and Office of Civic Engagement to immediately open wider channels of engagement with various stakeholders.
The governor praised the leaders of the protest, saying: “Your stoppage of the protest today is a crystal clear affirmation of the fact that you know your collective voice has been heard by the government. What you have done is not only noble but the civilized thing to do.”
He noted that despite the rumoured stoppage of the protest, the dialogue and engagements which the state government initiated prior to the action must continue.
The protest which began on August 1 is expected to end on August 10.
