THE Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria Police will respond to the 1 August planned protest by some Nigerians “in a most professional manner.”
This is even as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the protest as “politically induced” and aimed at diverting attention from the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Speaking publicly for the first time on the protest during an inspection tour of the Apo Karshi Road in Abuja on Tuesday, the former Rivers State governor appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as it works to address the country’s challenges.
Wike’s comments come after President Tinubu called on the organisers of the #‘EndBadGovernance’ protest to shelve their plans, citing concerns about the potential impact on the economy and security.
In addition to addressing the protest, Wike also issued a seven-month ultimatum to the contractors of the Apo-Karshi Road to complete the project. He expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work and revealed that 80% of the contract sum had been paid.
The Apo-Karshi project, awarded in 2011 under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, has yet to be completed despite the passage of 13 years. Wike attributed the delay to personal and political interests.
Meanwhile, Mr Egbetokun also spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with strategic police managers, consisting of officers from the ranks of commissioners of police and above.
He said the meeting with the strategic police managers was to share intelligence from the various police Commands in the country and analyse same for the security of the country.
“So, we are prepared, and I want to assure you that we will manage the protest most professionally,” he said.
The IG said the police would remain committed to providing security for those who engaged in peaceful protests.
He stated, “If the protest is peaceful, you will see us protecting the protesters as long as they remain peaceful. But we have a duty to protect lives and property, so we will not sit back and watch hoodlums burn down facilities in the name of protest. So, we are not against peaceful protest, we will support peaceful protest by protecting those who will engage in peaceful protest.’’
He said the task of maintaining law and order during the protest would not be a challenge if the protesters engaged in peaceful protest. According to him, it becomes a challenge if the protest is violent.
He added, “I have always said that the right to protest is the right to peaceful protest. No civilised society will tolerate violent protests. Violent protest is criminal, but peaceful protest is a right.”
The IG, therefore, called on Nigerian youths to ignore anyone inciting them to violent protests.
Eighteen-Eleven Media