Organisers Suspend Protests In Lagos, Osun

LAGOS — ORGANISERS of the hunger protest in Lagos and Osun states, yesterday, suspended further demonstrations.

While protesters in Lagos suspended theirs for 24 hours, their Osun State counterparts, decided to suspend further protest to allow for peaceful celebration of Osun-Osogbo Festival.

This came as a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, yesterday, extended an earlier order restricting protesters in Lagos to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state.

Suspension of protest in Lagos

The decision of the protesters in Lagos to suspend the protest was reached during a congress that took place on Monday in Ojota.

One of the organisers, Hassan Soweto said President Bola Tinubu’s speech did not address the demonstrators’ demands.

After the congress, one of the organisers, Juwon Sanyaolu announced that there will be no protest on Tuesday, adding that the next line of action will be communicated via social media.

Moments after the protesters were dismissed on Monday, some thugs emerged to attack the group.

In a message shared on WhatsApp, Soweto said there will be a rally today to honour those who have been killed during the protest.

The message reads: “Important notice: As agreed at the congress this evening, we are not converging at Ojota tomorrow. The next convergence is Wednesday, August 7, 2024, which we declared as a Matyrs day to honour our comrades killed across the country.”

Protesters suspend protest over Osun-Osogbo festival

Similarly, organisers of the hunger protest in Osun State, yesterday, explained that the suspension of protests was as a result of the ongoing Osun-Osogbo Festival in the state.

The coordinator of the protest, Mr Ajala Adetunji and other leaders of the protest, while addressing journalists in Osogbo after the procession, disclosed that the organisers have decided to suspend further protest to allow for peaceful celebration of the Osun-Osogbo Festival.

His words: “Furthermore, we reviewed the security situation vis-a-vis the Osun-Osogbo festival presently ongoing in Osogbo.

It is worthy of note to establish that the protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo which is of concern.

“Considering the safety of the influx of tourists coming for the global Osun-Osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising themselves as tourists and attacking peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold on August 6, 2024.”

Lagos court extends order restricting protesters to 2 venues

Meanwhile, a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, yesterday, extended an earlier order restricting protesters in Lagos to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state.

Justice S.I. Sonaike gave the order following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, for an extension order having complied with the preaction protocols for preemptive remedies ordered last week by another vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare.

Pedro, who was represented in court by the Director for Civil Litigations, Mr Hameed Oyenuga, told the court that service of the earlier court order had been served on all the respondents in compliance with the pre-action protocols for pre-emptive reliefs sought by the AG against the representatives of the protesters.

In her ruling, Justice Sonaike said: “Upon the matter coming before this honourable court and after hearing Hamid Oyenuga (Director of Civil Litigation, Lagos State,) with Akinola Idris and Olusegun Sogbesan of Counsel for the Claimant/Applicant seeking the leave of court to extend the order of July 30, 2024, pending the full compliance with the protocol as provided under paragraph 3 of Pre-Emptive remedies on General Pre-action Protocol (Expeditious Disposal of Civil Cases) Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019.

“Upon the court being further satisfied that the respondents as directed on July 30, 2024, had been fully served with the orders of July 30, 2024, with an affidavit of service exhibited and filed before this court.

“It is, hereby, ordered as follows: That order of July 30, 2024, by which the Interim Pre-emptive reliefs sought and granted on July 30, 2024, be and extended ie the lifespan of the Interim Order, is, hereby, extended until there is full compliance with the protocol. Return date shall be August 29, 2024, for further directives.”

Tinubu doesn’t appreciate level of suffering in Nigeria—Activists

Meanwhile, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu does not appreciate the level of suffering and hopelessness in the country.

CDWR, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bosah Chinedu, said: “Since President Tinubu increased the price of petrol and electricity tariffs astronomically including the floating of the Naira and hiked school fees, monstrous hardship has been imposed on Nigerians, crushing many Nigerians into deeper poverty and misery.

“The ideal expectation from a listening and sensitive president is to reverse all the anti-people reform policies but that did not come from Tinubu. CDWR demands the reversal of all anti-people policies.”