The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police has turned down an application by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) to hold a victory rally on Saturday at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.
Police sources said the authority decided to turn down the application in order not to further heat up the already fragile peace in the state, following the over one week of protest in the state at the venue, organized by labour and civil society groups due to the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, leading to the increase of the pump price of petrol from N65 to between N140 and N145.
The protest, which was also a fall-out of a strike action called by the organised labour, eventually forced the government to reduce the pump price of fuel to N97 per litre.
The source, who does not want to be named, said the police decided to refuse the application because of the fear that the victory rally may be hijacked by some unscrupulous persons who may be looking for any slight opportunity to cause confusion.
It will be recalled that the Save Nigeria Group, led by Pastor Tunde Bakare, had at a press conference during the week announced its intention to hold a victory rally on Saturday, as part of efforts to commend Nigerians for their resolute stance of standing for their right and encouraging them never to relent.