Updated: Heavy security as anti- and pro-govt protesters converge on Lagos, Abuja Stadium, others

Updated: Heavy security as anti- and pro-govt protesters converge on Lagos, Abuja Stadium, others

The nationwide protest billed to start August 1 has begun in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Port Harcourt, among other places in the country.

The reports as seen online and many local TV stations showed protesters at the MKO Stadium Abuja.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “End bad governance in Nigeria”, “making lawmakers part-time jobs” and chanting solidarity songs.

One of the lawyers to the protesters, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner, Bennett Igweh, against allowing the protests to degenerate into violence.

His advice came followed the CP’s insistence that the protesters must go inside the stadium, saying that was the order of the court.

While that was going on, a contingent of pro-government protesters came in about four buses to the national stadium, raising fears of possible clash between the two groups.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday restricted the protesters to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital.

The presiding judge, Sylvanus Oriji, gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Also in Lagos, pro-government protesters gathered at Alausa, Ikeja, urging the people to come out en masse to protest while carrying placards with inspiration like “Let us dialogue together”, “Dont cause more suffering”, “Dialogue is better than violence” and others.

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A report by ICIR indicates that some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, had been mobilising for nationwide protests scheduled to hold from today, August 1 to August 10.

The organisers said the protest was against bad governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

In Oyo State, protesters carrying placards from Iwo Road moved to Mokola and UI (University of Ibadan).

There was also a procession of protesters in Port Harcourt moving along major streets with the police giving them protection.

 This is not the first time Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest against the government.

Updated: Heavy security as anti- and pro-govt protesters converge on Lagos, Abuja Stadium, others