There was mild tension at the Ikeja underbridge in Lagos on Friday morning after #EndBadGovernance and pro-government protesters occupied the same location for their rallies.
The anti-government demonstrators were first to converge on
the Ikeja underbridge for the June 12 nationwide protest against what they
described as worsening insecurity and prevailing economic hardship in the
country.
Some pro-government supporters under the aegis of ‘Team
Nigeria’ soon joined them, however, a scenario neither of the groups had
envisaged.
June 12 is a day set aside to commemorate Nigeria’s
democratic journey.
The clash heightened tension with operatives of the Lagos
police command having to wade in.
Reacting to the situation, Hassan Soweto, an activist and
convener of the #EndBadGovernace movement in Lagos, said the anti-government
protesters would not shift ground for the pro-government protesters.
Soweto said the Ikeja underbridge belongs to every Nigerian
and that it has been a rallying point for residents protesting bad governance.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, joined the anti-government
protesters who were demanding urgent action against the uptick in insecurity
across the country.
‘FG MUST RESCUE ABDUCTED SCHOOLCHILDREN’
Speaking during the protest, Falana said a scenario where innocent schoolchildren from
Oyo and Borno states were kidnapped and kept in captivity for several weeks is
unacceptable.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said the protest was
also against pervasive hunger and poverty in the country, adding that there was
no basis for poverty in Nigeria.
“Therefore, this protest is also against the worsening
insecurity in our country. We are
calling on the government as a matter of urgency to rescue the children that
are in custody,” he said.
“Just imagine the primary school pupils, some of them just
barely 2-3 years old have been at the mercy of enemies for the past weeks.
“Come rain and sunshine, those kids are suffering. No
medical attention and no food for them. So for us as Nigerians, all of us are
in custody — one way or the other.
“We demand immediate release of those children and their
teachers. As you are well aware, a teacher has been beheaded in order to compel
the government to move speedily to have those children released.”
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