Amid Police seige in Lekki Toll Gate four million supporters of Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi set to march in Lagos State on Saturday, October 1, Obi-Datti 4M march.
It will be recalled that following a ruling by a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday that the Labour Party supporters could pass through the facility for its rally but must not converge at Lekki Toll, the Lagos State Police Command deployed policemen to Lekki Toll Gate and strategic areas in Lagos state to maintain and enforce the law ahead Of Peter Obi’s Rally.
Speaking on the planned Obi-Datti 4M march Take Back Naija, a coalition of support groups has announced that it will go ahead with its planned rally in Lagos State on Saturday, October 1.
According to the Co-ordinator of the group, Mr Martins Udegbunam said the Federal High Court in the state, didn’t stop the March, as they got permission to go ahead and conduct the march, they were only instructed not to converge at the Tollgate but they can pass through the gate.
Udegbunam said residents of the state would be joining the march to push for the Obi-Datti movement on Independence Day.
“So, the rally is going to go on and it is my utmost joy to invite everybody to join us on this march that will be happening in three locations across Lagos. It is happening in Festac, Federal Housing Authority(FHA), Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 and Arch Bishop Vin Church, Ikeja.
Our march is legal and constitutional, it is within the electoral time frame and calendar released by INEC and all security agencies have been duly and formally informed using the appropriate means. The police, NSCDC, Road safety, and DSS, will be on the ground to provide security as we march.”
He encouraged Nigerians on the importance to take a step forward, considering the cost of food items and other developmental issues, such as security, among other plights like the alarming rate of kidnapping, upheavals and killings experienced.
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“We have found a leader in Obi/Datti to serve this nation. It is Nigeria’s turn for leadership, nobody owns the nation, and the masses must be heard. No party has given us money, all that we are doing are with our efforts, individual contributions, showing you that we are the one that is contesting this election”.
The Deputy Coordinator, Anthony Abakporo, said they have strategically set up committed foot soldiers across every nook and cranny of the state that is working to ensure the dream to Take Back Naija is fulfilled.
“We have men and women who are capable of delivering the mandate.
Moreso, the Secretary of the group, Obinna Madu, urged Nigerians to join, explaining the need for them as responsible members of society and supporters of the ObIdient Movement and Labour Party.
Madu said they should you remain steadfast and resolute in your support for Peter Obi and the new Nigeria project as he remains the only candidate with clear programmes and implementation templates to take Nigeria out of this quagmire.”
One of the executives, Stanley Cyprian, made a quote from Nelson Mandela, “Africa can never be great until Nigeria becomes great. Nigeria’s state has denied the African continent its greatness”.
Meanwhile, SP Benjamin Hundeyin Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, disclosed that it has become necessary to enlighten Nigerians that might be misled into converging on the toll gate for Obi-Datti 4M march. A court of competent jurisdiction has ruled that no person is allowed to converge on the Lekki Toll gate for whatever reason.
“In conformity with its mandate to protect life and property, the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of CP Abiodun Alabi will leave no stone unturned in ensuring total compliance with the court order and an emplacement of adequate security in the state.
“While the Command is not averse to the peoples’ right to freedom of assembly, association and expression, the command will equally live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons, especially under the guise of rally or procession.
“The warning, therefore, goes that anyone found flouting the court order or infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with following the law.
“However, CP Alabi enjoins all peace-loving persons to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation, reiterating that adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians at designated rally venues and across the state at large”.
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