The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrenwaju Ishola, October 1, 2024, during the #NationalDayofSurvival, displayed his adroitness in being able to manage protesters.
It will be recalled that before the planned protest, the CP, along with other sister agencies met with stakeholders on September 27, 2024.
During the meeting, the urged Nigerians to jettison the protest, if possible, but if not to ensure it was violence-free and not hijacked by hoodlums.
Some of the demands on placards are that the government should reverse the cost of fuel, check hunger, electricity tariffs, and anti-people policies, among others.
The protesters and organisers gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge as early as 7: 30am, but the CP and his men were already there before them.
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It was from there they all marched to Freedom Park in Ojota.
CP Ishola was fully on the ground to monitor the deployment of officers and operational resources.
The pleas of the CP appeared to have worked as protesters conducted themselves properly.
Ishola and his men further endeared themselves to the protesters by buying snacks and bottled water for them.
Ishola said: “You can see for yourself, that the whole place is peaceful.
“We’ve been here since 3am.
“The protesters met us here.
“Some asked me what guarantee they had that they were safe, and they told them that they were truly safe as long as they operated within the ambit of the law.
“There will not be any issue.
“Before this protest, I had already met with stakeholders and a good number of them are here.
“We all reached an agreement in my office that there would not be a breakdown of law and order.”
One of the protesters, Comrade Oluwatobi Alimi, when asked his reason for participating in the protest, said: “Let’s start with the N70,000 minimum wage, which the Federal Government to date are yet to fulfil.
“It is when Nigerians do not speak out that ills continue, and the people are taken for granted.
“I can tell you that it is going to be a series of protests.”
Another protester, Samuel Ilori, said: “There are many reasons for this protest.
“Aside from hunger in the country, let’s talk about fraud in the electricity sector.
“It has been a sham with a new alphabetical order of bands.
“DisCos promised certain hours of electricity provision and increased tariff, not following the law to increase this tariff.
“Generally speaking, Nigeria is a giant in an ant body.
We are not progressing at all.
“The only people who progress in Nigeria are those in the government and they make policies that benefit them.
“The masses in Nigeria are mourning today, not celebrating.”
