The Take It Back Movement, one of the organisations behind the planned statewide demonstrations, has characterised the ruling obtained by the Lagos State Government as an abuse of judicial privilege intended to restrict residents’ freedom of association.
On Tuesday, a Lagos State High Court imposed restrictions on protestors taking part in the countrywide demonstration, limiting their movements to particular areas of the state.
On an ex parte appeal by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Lawal Pedro (SAN), Justice Emmanuel Ogundare issued an order restricting protests to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, the Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Lagos, Adekunle Taofeek, said the state government must bear the cost of moving protesters from several designated areas in the state to venues ordered by the court.
He said, “We frown at this abuse of judicial privilege to stifle freedom of association. The movement, at an emergency meeting, wishes to inform you that since this was your administration’s decision, you must bear responsibility for the movement of protesters from several destinations in Lagos to and from Peace Park in Ketu and Gani Fawehinmi Justice Park in Ojota in Lagos.”
Taofeek said some of the agreed designated convergence points for participating citizens are Alausa Secretariat, Lekki Toll Gates, Ikorodu Bus Park, Okota Link Bridge, LASU Campus gates, Iyana Ipaja Underbridge, and Agege Pen Cinema.
He went on, “You will soon be notified of additional protestor convergence points.”
According to Taofeek, in order to transport the demonstrators back to their locations, the buses must arrive at the allocated regions by 6 am and depart by 6 pm.
“The buses to be provided must be air-conditioned, safe, and clean,” he declared. Every night from August 1 to August 10, 2024, the buses must return demonstrators to their locations of confluence by 6 p.m., having arrived at these designated areas as early as 6 a.m.
“The Lagos State Government is encouraged to create contingency measures for the dusting off of these actions as the protest days may go on beyond 10 days.”
Taofeek issued a warning, saying that if the buses were not made available, the demonstrators would march every day to the city’s designated parks and court.
“They (protesters) would begin marching/walking to the court designated parks in the city on a daily basis for the duration of the #EndBadGovernance direct actions,” he declared, referring to your failure to provide buses for the demonstrators.
Taofeek consequently informed the Lagos State Government that during the protest, there would be processions and rallies.
“Finally, be informed that your bus operators are advised to find and park a safe distance from the areas designated by protesters for these activities. Throughout the #EndbadGovernance actions, there will be rallies and processions,” he said.