By Tola Gbadamosi

Less than 24 hours before the nationwide protest on August 1, 2024, security agencies in Ondo State have called on the people of the state to maintain peace and avoid reenacting the EndSARS and Kenya experiences.

Abayomi Oladipo, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Akure alongside other security agencies, said all the security agencies are fully on the ground to ensure peace in the state.

According to him, “What we are saying is that we should allow peace to reign in Ondo State. As it stands today, there have not been any groups who have indicated interest to participate in the protest. In line with the virtual meeting held by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, they should document their presence and locations with the police for the purpose of providing them adequate security to ventilate their concerns.”

Oladipo further stated, “We are all aware of the protest by the citizens titled ‘EndBadGovernance,’ which is set to start from August 1st to 10th. We are on the frontline, and I want to let you know that protest is a fundamental right in any democracy, and no responsible government will want to take away this right under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“The citizens have the right to freely assemble and express their concerns about how they are governed. However, other Nigerians who are not interested in being part of the protest also have their right to freedom of movement. We all have rights, and those rights must be protected for both sides.

“We have the mandate to protect all citizens and residents of this country by ensuring that those who are going to embark on lawful, peaceful protests are protected from being infiltrated by hoodlums who may want to hijack the protest to create confusion and mayhem in the state.

“I want to emphasise that there is a line between peaceful and violent protest. We have the mandate to protect and maintain public order. It is not the police’s business alone; there is synergy between all the security agencies to ensure that the EndSARS and Kenya experiences are not reenacted in this country.

“We would not allow the situation to degenerate into confusion where property and public infrastructure would be destroyed. We want to use this opportunity to assure the citizenry, both the residents and indigenes of Ondo State, that we are prepared to protect them against any violence.

“In case you have information about the activities of any persons intending to create confusion, people should feel free to pass the information to all the security agencies in the state so that we can adequately respond to such situations. We want to advise and appeal to traditional rulers and labor union leaders to appeal to their people to allow peace to reign in this country. We have no other country that we can call our own than Nigeria.

“We are not taking it for granted that people have not indicated interest, but we want to say that peaceful protest will be allowed. We must allow peace to reign. We should all be assured that we will provide adequate security for all citizens.”