The Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed hundreds of anti-riot policemen to the venue of the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. This is seen, say our sources, as ‘part of a measure to forestall any protest,’ and ‘break down’ of law and order by the delegates.
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed hundreds of anti-riot policemen to the venue of the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. This is seen, say our sources, as ‘part of a measure to forestall any protest,’ and ‘break down’ of law and order by the delegates.
Some of the officers who stormed the venue of the conference with a truck of water canon, and anti riot gear, was unsettling for many in attendance. Numerous sources to SaharaReporters say, the ‘storming’ sent (the) jittery down the spines of many delegates.
There has been speculation within the conference that some of the delegates may raise the alarm, as soon as the conference organizers deviate their focus from numerous mandates.
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One delegate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has vowed to “open up” any perceived secret being concealed by the conference organizers.
The convener of ‘Save Nigeria Group,’ rejected his N14 million allowance, saying he would prefer to “spend his own money,” because he was at the conference to represent people.
Sources at the conference said that some delegates from a particular region may stage a ‘walk-out’ of the conference, if their positions are ignored, and not incorporated in the final report.
The deployment of anti riot policemen near the venue has had a ‘chilling effect’ on the gathering, even angering some participants, say sources to SaharaReporters.
The presence of heavily armed police, and other law enforcing personnel has given credence cynics of the conference. The prevailing sentiment in that crowd is that “the Government will clamp down on any dissident, or dissenting voices present at the conference.”
As the conference adjourned its plenary session to Monday of next week, there are many voices that are hopeful for a positive conclusion to the long anticipated gathering of divergent voices. Yet, one prevailing viewpoint shared among many conference attendees runs contrary, and is even cautionary.
The cautionary view is that, “Nigerians should ‘watch out’ for the actors and delegates that would determine the shape of events to come, very closely, in the next three months of the conference.”
Heavily armed anti-riot police only help to feed such perception.
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