By Adeyemi Adeleye
THE LEADERSHIP of the organised civil society under the umbrella of United Action Front of Civil Societies (UAFCS) says nationwide protest is planned to be peaceful.
Mr Olawale Okunniyi, the Head, Coordinating Secretariat of the UAFCS, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“Since security agencies are going to be cooperating by protecting the protesters and ensuring that hoodlums do not infiltrate them, I can assure you that it will be peaceful because that is the intention.
“It is just for the security agents to do their jobs professionally. If they do what they are supposed to do, then there won’t be any breakdown of law and order,” Okunniyi said.
He urged security agents not to attempt to disperse, frustrate, hoodwink or confront protesters as there was no cause to worry about the turnout of protesters.
He said that the protest was ongoing on in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country, that demonstrators were still gathering in some places.
“Protest is going on in Lagos, protesters are going to Alausa Secretariat from Ikeja Under Bridge,” he said.
He said that protesters were also going to MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, adding that peaceful protest was going on in Kano and other locations.
“It is the first day, no cause for alarm or worry, people are gathering and momentum is building,” he told NAN, adding that there would be tranquillity and stability in the country if the government across all levels would meet the demands of the people, stating: “This will reduce the days of protest.”
NAN reports that businesses, markets, roads and parks had been shut down in some parts of Lagos due to the much-publicised protest.
The protest planned to end on Aug. 10, is aimed at drawing Federal Government’s attention to the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. (NAN)
