By: Mandy Park
A tense situation unfolded on Thursday as pro-government protesters, allegedly sponsored by a Lagos APC chieftain, attempted to undermine the #EndBadGovernance June 12 rally. The pro-government group, accompanied by armed policemen and thugs, tried to stage a counter-rally at the same venue, causing a near-collision with the #EndBadGovernance protesters.
Despite the disruptions, the #EndBadGovernance protesters remained determined, proceeding with their rally and procession to Ojota. The police presence was notable, with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, who was accused of being bias.
The pro-government supporters were fully mobilised by a chieftain of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) whose name could not be immediately ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
The APC official, accompanied by armed policemen and thugs, initially mobilized hundreds of women to stage a counter rally at same venue and very close to the position where the #EndBadGovernance protesters had converged.
Earlier, multiple vehicles, including those owned by the police and others that were unmarked, were parked at the spot usually used by the #EndBadGovernance protesters every time they converge at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh also added to the frustration of the #EndBadGovernance protesters by holding a press briefing right in their midst. This caused distractions, until one of the coordinators of the protest, Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto called out the police commissioner for distracting their event.
The rally at the Ikeja Under Bridge was clash of sounds between the pro-government protesters, who were dancing to party jamz, and those of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, who were chanting revolutionary songs from Fela, Idris Abdulkareem and African Chyna.
The #EndBadGovernance protesters later left the pro-government supporters behind a d begun a procession to Ojota.
Not long after the procession, the APC chieftain led a truck carrying massive musical equipment. He started trolling the #EndBadGovernance protesters, deafening their ability to communicate effectively with other Nigerians. While the obstruction was ongoing, the police did little to stop the provocation.
At the Ojota motor park where the #EndBadGovernance protesters made the final stop, the pro-government supporters continued their disruption.
During a speech at the venue, Comrade Soweto warned the police against inviting him to answer questions about his group violating a court ruling which restricted protest to a specific location without also inviting APC chairman in Lagos whom he accused of violating same order.
The June 12 protest called by the #EndBadGovernance Movement to express disapproval over government policies which they said have brought suffering and hunger, held at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
The protesters, in their hundreds, held several placards to show their displeasure with the government.
Some of the placards read: “Nigerian workers work hard but cannot feed. Enough is Enough.” “We pay through our nose, Eko Disco smile to the bank.” “No one deserves a death sentence for protesting against hunger.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood was on the protest ground to observe events. Asked by journalists if his men would be professional in managing the protest, he said there would be no case of overzealous actions, although some observers of the protest accused him of taking sides, by covering the pro-government group and putting pressure on the anti-government group to disperse Early than scheduled.