Category: Featured

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Tajudeen Adebanjo, Oyebola Owolabi, Alao Abiodun, Sampson Unamka; Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Youths and activists on Wednesday defied the presence of security operatives to mark the one-year anniversary #ENDSARS protests in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, and seven other states.

Unlike last year’s demonstrations that were marred by killings and destruction of public properties, yesterday’s recorded no known casualties.

But protesters and passersby were arrested by the security agents.

A journalist and an Uber driver were brutalised. As of 7.35 pm, The Nation gathered that nearly all the arrested persons had been freed except for 10 others described by the Police as “miscreants”.

Activists also marched on Osun, Ondo,  Kwara, Rivers, Edo, Abia, and Plateau states.

Among the prominent persons at the Lagos and Abuja protests were musicians like Charles Oputa (aka Charlie Boy),  Folarin Falana (aka Falz); comedian Adebowale Adedayo(aka Mr. Macoroni; the 2019 Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore and an activist, Deji Adeyanju.

The youths and activists on October  20, last year took to the streets of most state capitals across the country demanding the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force for abuse of human rights. Many people died scores injured and public, as well as private properties, destroyed.

Lekki Toll Gate in Lekki, Lagos which was the centre of the demonstrations remains shut till today after soldiers reportedly dispersed the protesters with live bullets.

Yesterday, flag-waving protesters and activists returned to the toll gate but were confronted by security operatives comprising men of the police’ Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Taskforce, and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

The car procession had barely gathered full steam around 8 am when it turned rowdy following indiscriminate arrests of some of the protesters and assault on journalists.

The arrested Uber driver, Clement Adedotun, one of the journalists, Bisola Alawode, a young woman, Blessing, and several others were forced into a waiting Black Maria by the operatives.

Adedotun was manhandled, pepper-sprayed, and tear-gassed directly on his face for resisting attempts to force him into the  Black Maria.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos Police Command, Hakeem Odumosu, however, said 10 people he described as “miscreants’ are still being quizzed.

Before the clampdown by the security operatives who claimed that hoodlums infiltrated the protests,   the procession was largely peaceful.

The Nation reports that the youth-led by Falz, Macoroni, Charlie Boy, among others moved in scores of vehicles waving the Nigerian flag and chanting #EndSARS through the tollgate several times.

Read Also: Why I ordered police to fire teargas at Lekki protesters, by Odumosu

The organisers intermittently urged the participants to stay in their vehicles to prevent harassment by the operatives.

But as the protesters were wrapping up their procession by dropping their flags as they drove past the tollgate for the last time, more youths, who joined refused to vacate the scene.

It was observed that this group of protesters did not adhere to the agreed guideline of staying in their vehicles and no obstruction of traffic.

They were said to have parked their vehicles on the road, causing massive congestion while also converging physically at the Tollgate.

To ensure flow of traffic, the police blocked the tollgate and diverted motorists going into Lekki through Oba Oniru Road.

It was at this point that the security operatives used teargas to disperse the crowd and towed away vehicles parked on the road before reopening the tollgate.

In the ensuing melee, it was alleged that a thug stabbed an LNSC official and fled, a development that led to the arrest of some persons with cutlasses, hammers and charms.

Commissioner of Police Odumosu, later explained that he ordered the release of those that had earlier been wrongfully arrested. He also apologized  to those brutalised.

Odumosu insisted that the ban on street protest was to prevent the destruction of lives and properties as witnessed in 2020 across the state.

He added that the operatives had to use minimal force when they discovered that miscreants had infiltrated the crowd.

He said:  “It was agreed they will do a car procession between 8 am and 10 am and I provided adequate security for them.

“No one stopped the car procession. I told them that no one will harass them as long as they do not obstruct traffic

“I put a call across to one of the organisers to know if they were done and he said yes… and that they had dispersed.

“So, those ones who came to block the road are not known. We arrested 10 persons with machetes, are the protesters?  Those are miscreants.

“Two journalists were arrested because they could not identify themselves but when I was called, I ordered their release. All those who were wrongfully arrested have been released. Those we are keeping are those we found with weapons or have reasons to keep them. We will conduct further investigation on them.”

There was however fisticuff by urchins over sharing of money given to them by an unnamed celebrity.

As soon as the celebrity handed the money to two men, the rest of the urchins surged towards them,  causing an upheaval. .

In no time, charms and cutlasses were brought out by the hoodlums who engaged themselves in free for all before security operatives raced to the spot to restore peace.

*Abuja: There were however two separate protests in the Federal Capital Territory to mark the anniversary.

One was led by Sowore and Adeyanju while the second tagged Pro-Buhari was coordinated by Okpokwu Ogenyi.

The Sowore and Adeyanju group had barely left the Unity Fountain in Abuja when the pro-Buhari group arrived.

As members of the Sowore-Adeyanju group headed towards the National Assembly Complex, they were pushed back by security operatives.

Sowore claimed that the security operatives acted on the orders of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The protesters had caused mild traffic gridlock along Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business before they were forced to retreat to Unity Fountain, along Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, where they continued the protest that was largely peaceful.

Most of the protesters were clad in black outfits that reflected the mood of the occasion.

The slogan: “We will Not Forget 2010 20 Lekki Massacre” was boldly inscribed on their outfits.

They also carried placards with inscriptions like: “The Liberator Generation is Here”, “Young Not Criminal”, “Why Does It Look Like it is a Crime to be a Nigerian”, “You Can’t Kill Nobody”, “We Can’t Be the Future of the Nation if We Are Dead.”.

Sowore told reporters that    Nigerians were sick and tired of the fake type of democracy in the country which he likened to ‘morontocracy’.

“We are here to remind the Nigerian people that the biggest rebellion is yet to come but this day must be commemorated because it was the day the worst atrocity was committed against Nigerian youth who fought against police brutality,” he said.

A few metres from the EndSARS protesters, the pro-Buhari group also unfurled a banner, describing the shooting of protesters at Lekki as a hoax.

They carried banners with inscriptions like: “EndSARS was an insurrection against the state”.

The Pro-Buhari protesters berated the #EndSARS anniversary protesters for being too critical of the Buhari government..

They also accused the #EndSARS protesters of projecting Nigeria in a bad light before the world through their mass action in Lagos, Abuja, and other major cities in the country.

Ogenyi, leader of the pro-government protesters, said the #EndSARS protesters were mobilised to blackmail the Buhari administration.

“We shall no longer keep quiet while unscrupulous elements are trying to blackmail the Buhari government,” he said.

 

Despite signing a Memorandum of Action on autonomy for state legislature and Judiciary, most of the 36 governors have not encouraged the enactment of legislation to back it up.

Only 12 states have passed the appropriate law for autonomy for state legislature and judiciary.

Out of the 12 states, eight did so in the North and four others in the South.

The states are Plateau; Sokoto; Bauchi; Bayelsa; Enugu; Lagos; Imo; Jigawa; Kwara; Taraba; Nassarawa; and Kaduna.

The Secretary, Implementation Committee on Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, Senator Ita Enang made the disclosures in a paper presented to the Chief Judges of 36 states, 19 Grand Khadis and 17 Presidents of the Customary Court of Appeal at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.

Enang, who spoke at a closed door session, said with financial autonomy, any errant head of government will pay for it.

He said during negotiations with  the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASSAN) and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria( JUSUN), there were heated arguments with the governors over who will handle award of contracts in the Legislature and the Judiciary,

He said governors will be laying land mines for the Judiciary or Heads of courts.

Enang asked the heads of courts to be careful in executing financial autonomy.

Following prolonged strike PASSAN and JUSUN, a Memorandum of Action was signed on May 20, 2021 by all the parties, including the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

All the states  agreed to a 45 days window of implementation.

But, as at September 2021, Enang said only 12 states have complied with the agreement.

He shed light on what led to the issuance of Executive Order 10 by President Muhammadu Buhari on Legislative and judicial autonomy.

He said: “It is tempting, for time constraints, to skip the historical of the originating processes that led to the autonomy commencing from the Memo et al to the preparation and signing of Executive Order 10, which legally set out the template for the implementation in the different states with sanction for failure to so do.

“Upon Assent to the Constitution Amendment which reemphasized autonomy and funds to the Legislative and Judicial arms directly from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of these states upon appropriation, the governors failed to release the funds to the said arms.

“Upon this, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Body of Chief Judges, Hon Justice Ajana (C. J Kogi), of blessed memories and Hon Justice Kate Abiri (C J Bayelsa) consulted with institutions of government as to possible aid to implementation.

Read Also; APC govs agree to implement judicial, legislative autonomy

“As Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, I prior consulted with higher authorities and upon green light originated a memo setting out the background and praying Mr. President for constitution of Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of States Legislature and States Judiciary.

“The terms of the memo and prayers dated    September 11, 2020 set out thus:

• To assess and review the level of compliance by all the 36 states of the Federation with section 121(3) of the 1999 constitution (as amended)
• To monitor, ensure and cause the implementation of financial autonomy across the judiciary and legislature of the 36 states of the federation in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and other applicable laws, instruments and conventions however providing for financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary at the tier of government
• To consult and relate with the appropriate federal and state MDAs including but not limited to the Governors Forum, (NGF) Accountant-General of the Federation and those of states, the National Economic Council and other institutions of state to ensure and where necessary enforce the implementation of the constitutional provision.
• To come up with appropriate modality or enforce to be adopted by all the states of the Federation for implementation and/or compliance with section 121(3) of the 1991 constitution (as amended)
• To do such other things that are deemed necessary or incidental to the fulfilment of the aim of the committee to attain the full purpose this assignment.

”The Committee was constituted and inaugurated with terms of reference and constitution as proposed.”

He said it was not easy to convince the governors to concede to autonomy for the Legislature and the Judiciary.

He said there were heated arguments and disagreements with the governors as to award of contracts.

He said after the signing of Memorandum of Action, only 12 states have enacted autonomy  legislation for the Legislature and the Judiciary.

He added: “The committee and its mandate were sternly opposed and fought by the governors but eventually arrived at recommendations which were further stoutly resisted by governors who are Heads of the Executive arm of Government and in illegal control of the State Treasury disbursing at discretion without respect to the entitlement of the other two arms of government

“The recommendations were reduced to Executive Order No. 10 signed and issued by Mr. President setting out the process of Implementation and option of getting the sum deducted directly from the account of that states government at the Federation Account and pay directly to the account of the offended arm of government where the state fails.

“The governments of the states failed and refused as expected and after all steps failed, we initiated steps at deducting the monies due the State Judiciary from the Federation account.

“Memo went upstairs and the governors intervened opting for more fruitless time buying dialogue and Mr. President obliged and directed the Chief of  Staff to the President to handle

“At this forum, after all familiar antics it was agreed that as per the E O 10, each state should have enacted or made Funds management Laws for each state regulating budgeting and fund releases to the account of each arm of government. This on its own was not honored until strike by Judiciary Staff Union and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria which now moved us from the Chief of Staff office to The Ministry of Labour

“Memorandum of action was signed on May 20, 2021 which you all have with 45 days window of implementation.

“As at September 2021 only 12  States have passed the Legislation, namely: Plateau ; Sokoto;   Bauchi ;  Bayelsa ; Enugu; Lagos; Imo;  Jigawa; Kwara; Taraba;  Nassarawa; and Kaduna.

Enang advised heads of the Legislature and the Judiciary to be cautious and place premium on due diligence.

He said with financial autonomy, any errant head of government will pay for it.

He added: “But under the autonomy regime you are, as the Heads of the Arm of Government personally responsible. And will answer for it. Thus the need for due diligence as physician will now heal himself.”

“The best and error proof process is as provided or will be provided in the Judiciary (funds management) Law or such Legislation by whatever name called passed by the State House of Assembly and Assented to by the Governor guiding the operation and application of Judiciary funds by the Judiciary for the Judiciary to be accounted for by the Judiciary.

“Again, in the Memorandum of Action signed in the course of the PASSAN and JUSUN strikes wherein we laid out irreducible minimum in the template as to the proposed content of the Laws, we did have heated arguments and disagreements with the governors as to award of contracts.

“The tone of that discussion and possible land mine evident thereat indicates that the Executive or the Governors will be laying land mines for the Judiciary or Heads of courts to fall into and be doomed.

“Be wise and go for precedence when Statutes leaves loopholes or presents a banana peel.”

Enang  asked Chief Judges to be careful in implementing financial autonomy in order not to land in the net of any anti-corruption agency.

He said: “I have had the privilege of examining Funds Management Laws of States’ Legislatures and Judiciary and they, in the main provides for due process institutions and procedure within the Laws and insulates the Heads of the Legislative and Judicial Arms of Governments from direct and hands on participation in financial matters except general direction as given to the Governor in the Executive.

“A governor is not personally involved in processes but such are handled in Ministerial form  with permanent Secretaries as accounting officers, not even the commissioners. This is the process as now is, and is to be entrenched statutorily in the Judiciary Funds’ management template.

“This can be said to be the Convention as the political office holders as transient transitory political figures are not allowed by extant practice in any of the three Arms of Government to be a signatory other than ‘approving’ authority in the funds management process.

“Where there appears a lacuna not covered by the Funds Management Laws, or the convention in other arms of Governments in any matter arising in Course of implementation of Financial autonomy please fall back to the practice adopted by the National Judicial Council (NJC) inn fund management process from budget conception, bilateral with Budget office, inclusion in the Annual Budget as will be laid before the National Assembly, defence before the mandate committees, passage, Assent, release to the account of the Judiciary, syndication to the different Heads of courts by the National Judicial Council headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, advert for procurement.

“Same are the Chief Judges of states expected to do to other subject courts and Judicial bodies for thus will you escape from answering questions from Anti-corruption institutions.”

By Emmanuel Oladesu, John Ofikhenua, and Oyebola Owolabi

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) yesterday said a protest in commemoration of last year’s #EndSARS demonstration is unnecessary.

Sanwo-Olu, who acknowledged that youths have reasons to demand for better life and future, admonished them to embrace dialogue and reconciliation instead of resorting to violent attacks.

The LCCC Director-General, Dr Chinyere Almona, who lamented the impact of the #EndSARS protest on business across the country, pointed out that the business community lost over N700 billion to the protests.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at a peace conference in Lagos with the theme: Rebuilding for Greatness: ‘Peace Conflict Resolution’.

The LCCI chief spoke against the backdrops of the one-year anniversary of the #ENDSARS protest.

Also lamenting the negative impact of the protest, the Ikeja Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) said the burnt or missing case files in court have slowed down the administration of justice.

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Organisation (NARTO) complained that it was yet to receive compensation for losses incurred during last year’s protest, which was hijacked by hoodlums who unleashed mayhem on the metropolis.

Yesterday, the police warned against any violent protest in Lagos.

Led by Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, policemen staged a show-of-force in the metropolis to reiterate their earlier warning against street protest.

Also, police, soldiers and other security agents have taken over the Lekki Toll Gate, the centre of last year’s protest.

At the Lagos Peace Conference, the state government and some youth leaders brokered reconciliation and pledge mutual commitment to conflict resolution.

Read Also; Security operatives take over Lekki Tollgate ahead of #EndSARS memorial protest

Many youths across Lagos State, despite the national holiday, turned up for the conference aimed at creating a common platform for the resolution to conflicts.

The youths discussed how they could effectively channel their grievances to the authorities.

The seven-man discussion panel moderated by Mazi Sam Uche Anyamele, a filmmaker, set the tone for the governor’s response to various suggestions by youths at the event.

Sanwo-Olu, dressed in Boys Scouts’ green shirt and light-brown pants, with yellow tie to match, said “the moment for true reconciliation has begun.”

He said Lagos was now set for a total healing after last year’s coordinated attacks on its assets, which also resulted in loss of lives and livelihoods.

Sanwo-Olu stressed: “Today is a day of reconciliation and it is about our teeming youths. This is the moment to create a common ground and take ownership of our future. We have indeed assessed what we have passed through as a people; it’s now the moment to come together and build our lives together.

“This event is about aggregating all the conversations of the millions of youths that have been represented here. All of us have agreed that, when we work together, we can build a resilient society we will truly be proud of. We will continue to build, engage and work with our young people. I certainly will not give up on you as partners in progress and your ability to bring about positive changes.”

Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the need for inter-generational dialogue to proactively address issues that may lead to conflict, assuring the participants of his administration’s readiness to champion causes that would be beneficial to young people.

The governor said the youth must not only be granted a stakeholder status in the state’s project, but also be given prime seats in decisions making arena. He said his administration had shown example by appointing scores of young people under 40 years into the State Executive Council, and as political aides and administrators of Government’s agencies.

Sanwo-Olu also promised to increase the State’s investment in human capital development and equip the youths with requisite 21st century skills that would empower them economically.

He said: “I thank all the youths who participated in this forum for the valuable suggestions offered and the ideas shared. I’m taking full responsibility and ownership of all the feedback recommended here. All the points have been taken and I will continue to rely on them in the course of governance.”

Sanwo-Olu highlighted some programmes specifically targetted at youths. He said: “Some of these programmes, which were initiated as part of our efforts to address issues bothering on youth development and empowerment, include remodeling, development and equipping of four youth centres – Abesan, Lafiaji, Ikorodu and Omituntun.

“On October 27, we will be holding the first of its kind Lagos Police Youth Dialogue session where our youths and policemen will deliberate on how to strengthen their relationship and create a synergy that will improve interaction and security in the state.’’

Businesses lost N700b last year

Almona said the LCCI estimated the immediate loss from the EndSARS to be above N700 billion in October last year, with discoveries of more losses after weeks of investigations by the government across the country.

She added: “The 2021 Global Peace Index (GPI) released by the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Nigeria 146 among 163 independent nations and territories, according to its level of peacefulness in 2020.

“Nigeria moved one step from 147 in 2020 (from 2019 rank), though it still ranked eighth among the least peaceful countries in Africa after South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali.

“In 2020, the world witnessed almost 15,000 violent protests and riots.

“The damage it caused came with a hefty price of about 15 trillion dollars or 11.6 per cent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product.

“Among those, more than 5,000 were pandemic-related and were recorded between January 2020 and April 2020.”

Burnt case files worry NBA

Lamenting that the #EndSARS protests, Ikeja NBA said they resulted in loss of lives and property across the country.

He condemned the hoodlums who looted and razed the Igbosere High Court in Lagos Island.

The historic edifice was the oldest judicial building in Nigeria and rebuilding of the court complex is yet to commence.

NBA Ikeja branch chairman, Bartholomew Aguegbodo, said the effects of the #EndSARS protest was still being felt by lawyers as key stakeholders in the administration of justice system.

“There are a lot of hiccups caused by the burning of the courthouse, case files and exhibits got burnt during the #EndSARS crisis and some of those case files are yet to be recovered.

“It was just less than two months ago that alternative solutions were put in place for new courthouses in Yaba and Ikoyi areas of Lagos.

“We are still battling to grasp with the weight of the #EndSARS crisis up till now,” he said.

The NBA chairman noted that following the arson attack, several lost records could not be retrieved because online e-filing system for the judiciary had not fully taken off.

“We believe now that with the formal e-filing system working fully, if we are to have a repeat of the #EndSARS crisis, it will not generate cases of missing files any longer.

“Due to the arson attack, we had instances where both the claimants and the defendants had to bring out records from themselves to reconstruct case files.

“It created a very unhealthy task and up till today, there are a lot of case files that are yet to be reconstructed.”

NARTO laments lack of compensation

NARTO President Alhaji Yusuf Othman complained that the Federal Government has refused to compensate the members of the association.

He said: “There has been no compensation. Nobody listened to us. There is no development. Nobody listened to us. We did not hear anything.”

Othman said NARTO lost over N2 billion as their trucks were burnt.

He added: “We have some trucks that were burnt. Others with drivers and motor boys burnt. Specifically around Imo State, over 100 trucks were burnt with maize, and cattle. And we have taken inventory of these destructions and we have sent to government. We have not heard from them (Government). “We lost more than N2billion. Of course,  we cannot quantify the amount of lives (drivers and motor boys) that were lost. Some trucks were burnt at Warri. One or three trucks were burnt around Lagos. But the major destruction was around Aba.”

The Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN) urged government to implement policies aimed at massive job creation, youth empowerment and engagements and poverty alleviation.

Mr Saviour Iche, its National President, Saviour Iche, said last year’s protest was expected to bring changes, transformation, new agendas and innovative ideas, in view of the way government had handled previous issues that brought about the protest.

According to him, the call for change appears not to have been fully addressed, hence, the need for government to look into the various demands of the youth for improved national outcomes.

Iche advised against any protest during EndSARS anniversary, saying that the impacts would affect the masses more.

“There are people that if they did not go out in a day, they would not eat.

“The high cost of living will lead many people to suffering and the economy will be totally grounded.”

By Alao Abiodun, Precious Igbonwelundu, Sampson Unamka, and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Organisers of the #ENDSARS anniversary protests in Lagos said on Tuesday they would embark on a two-hour car procession through the Lekki Tollgate.

The decision followed the insistence of the Police Command on its  ”no street protests” in any part of the state.

Two of the organisers — Folarin Falana and Adebowale Adedayo —  made this known via social media posts yesterday Falana, a musician popularly known as Falz, is the son of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and rights activist, Femi Falana, Adedayo is a comedian known as Mr Macoroni.

The Abuja protests will be led by the 2019 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and an activist, Deji Adeyanju.

Falala and Adedayo, who used their various platforms to share fliers about the carpool billed to hold between 8 am and 10 am today, explained that the decision was to prevent security forces from harassing participants.

They vowed that the youth cannot be silenced and would not be forced to forget those who lost their lives last October 20.

Urging Nigerians with vehicles to join the protests, Falana said it was impossible not to “memorialise our fallen heroes.”

Read Also; PHOTOS: Lagos Police in “Show of Force” for planned #EndSARS memorial protest

He wrote: “We will never ever forget that innocent Nigerian citizens waved flags and sang till they were shot at, injured, and killed.

“We must never forget. We are rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate. We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize police harassment.

“We will stay in our vehicles throughout. We have rides for people that need them. Each and everyone’s safety is very important so please let’s move together.”

His father, Femi Falana, lend his voice to the protests, saying that if there was no provocation by the government today,  there would be no violence in any part of the country. ….

Sowore, in a brief interview with The Nation, said   ”We will commence the protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja by 8 in the morning.”

Adeyanju, who confirmed that the protests would begin from the Unity Fountain, added: “ I don’t think we need to inform the police  about the  protests.”

From fliers that went viral on social media, The Nation observed that the organisers in states such as Lagos, Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Plateau, and Rivers have perfected plans for the protests.

Oyo protesters will gather at Iwo Road Underbridge and Ojoo Roundabout, while Edo protesters will meet at Museum ground, Kings Square in Benin.

Kwara protesters will be meeting at Challenge Junction while the candlelight procession is to be held at Point Post Office Under Bridge.

Enugu protesters are to meet at Okpara Square. Protesters in Rivers State will converge at the Waterlines, Port Harcourt.

For Adamawa State, the protesters will converge at the Bekaji Parliament, Yola while those in Bayelsa have planned to hold the protest at Etegwe NIIT Road By Boro-pit, Yenagoa.

Also yesterday, Falana (SAN) told reporters said he believes that there would be no violence if the protesters were not provoked by the government

“I can tell you if there is no provocation by the government tomorrow (today), there will be no violence in the country,” he said during the comparative lecture and public presentation of remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices.

The theme of the lecture was “One Year After #ENDSARS, 35 Years After Dele Giwa and The Quest to Remake Nigeria.”

Falana added; “If you also recall what happened last year, the violence was instigated by the government and sponsored by the government. I am sure you saw some of the criminal elements in Abuja who were ferried all over the place shooting at protesters.”

“In Alausa here, a busload of thugs armed to the teeth were unleashed on protesters so if the government does not want to cause violence, rallies will take place peacefully,”

Yesterday, the Delta State Government announced plans to pay  N102,450,000 as “incidental claims” to victims of Police brutality and human rights violation in the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said in a statement yesterday that the payments would be made “in due course”.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will Wednesday pick two consensus candidates for the positions of deputy national chairmen for South and North regions.

The governors are meeting in Abuja to take final decisions on who to pick among those jostling for the two party positions.

Three party chieftains – former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former PDP National Secretary Prof Adewale Oladipo and the party’s Vice Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja – have shown interest in the position.

Jostling for the post from the North geo-political zone are: widow of a Finance minister, the late Adamu Ciroma,  Inna, and Mallam Umar Damagum from Yobe State.

Of strategic importance to the governors and party leaders, is the position of Deputy National Chairman (South), over permutations that whoever emerged winner may become the substantive National Chairman if the party eventually picks its presidential candidate from the North.

The party, which zoned its National Chairmanship position to the North, had picked one-time Senate President Iyorchia Ayu as its consensus candidate.

Read Also: PDP Secretary: Obi, Udenwa, Ihedioha reject ‘imposition’ of Anyanwu as Southeast consensus candidate

The Benue State-born may have to resign as chairman if a northerner wins party’s 2023 presidential ticket after the primaries.

A party source confided in our reporter yesterday that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will be leading eight other governors from the South to present the regions preferred candidate for the position to their five counterparts from the North.

The position has been micro zoned to the Southwest.

Also to be ratified is the position of the National Secretary, for which party leaders in the Southeast have nominated a former lawmaker in the Eighth Assembly from Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

However, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) from Anambra State, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh has joined the race. Muo-Aroh, insisted that the position was micro zoned to Anambra and not Imo.

There is only one candidate for the position of National Woman Leader, which is zoned to the South-South and micro zoned to Cross River State. Prof Stella Effah-Attoe is the sole candidate.

So far, the only known aspirant for the office of National Publicity Secretary, as of the time of filing this report was Mr. Debo Ologunagba from Ondo State.

Some of the remaining positions are believed to have been filled by stakeholders in the various zones and states to which they have been zoned and micro zoned.

Other contestants are said to have quietly filled and submitted their nomination forms while a few of them are said to have submitted their completed documents through proxies.

The governors and party leaders have resolved to present consensus candidates for as many positions as possible ahead of the October 30-31 convention.

This, stakeholders say, is to reduce cost and to lessen the burden of processing heaps of documents of aspirants for the various offices. It is also meant to reduce tension and recriminations that usually accompany such contests.

Security operatives, including police, soldiers and others have stormed the Lekki toll gate to prevent the first anniversary of #EndSARS nationwide protests.

The police authorities and State Government had warned against another phase of protests.

But the adamant groups have vowed not to back down despite the repeated warnings.

Read Also: PHOTOS” Lagos Police in “Show of Force” for planned #ENDSARS memorial protest

Organisers of the memorial protest have been mobilising on social media platforms.

They vowed to storm the Lekki Tollgate in a car procession.

The Nation reports the tollgate has been shut since October 20, after the #EndSARS incident.

Witnesses told The Nation that heavy presence of armed security operatives was spotted in some parts of Lekki and other areas of the State.