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September 27, 2024
The invitation dated September 26, 2024, addressed to Taiwo and signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Khan Salihu Usman, was scheduled to hold at 4pm on Friday September 27, 2024.
Three days to October 1 scheduled for second phase of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests tagged #FearlessInOctober, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command invited the National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Taiwo Soweto, and several other #EndBadGovernance protests organisers to a “stakeholders” meeting in Lagos.
The invitation dated September 26, 2024, addressed to Taiwo and signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Khan Salihu Usman, was scheduled to hold at 4pm on Friday September 27, 2024.
The invitation sighted by SaharaReporters on Friday read, “I am directed by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Olawale Ishola, to respectfully invite you to a stakeholders meeting.
“The event is scheduled to hold as follows: Date: September 27th, 2024. VENUE: CP's Conference Hall, Headquarters, Ikeja. Time: 1600hrs
“The said timeframe is set to enable our Muslim brothers to observe the Jumaat prayers on time, endeavor to keep to time stated please.”
Confirming and reacting to the invitation, Taiwo in a post on Facebook said that those included in the invitation are himself, Oloye Adeniji Adeboyega, Aishat Omolara, Isack Obasi and others.
He said “The invitation itself was late and for
many, it came via phone calls rather than a written letter. Despite this, we have been reliably advised by our lawyers to honour it. Our lawyers have also decided to accompany us to the meeting.
“Obviously, the invitation is connected to our resolve to march out peacefully in protest on October 1st 2024 in continuation of our struggle against hunger, hardship and misery created by President Tinubu's anti-poor policies.
“The Nigerian people should be rest assured that no intimidation will stop the October 1st protest. Not even any threat of arrest. Protest is a fundamental right and we shall not concede it whatever happens.
“We are by this statement notifying all members of the movement and the general public about the invitation and to encourage everyone to be on high alert should the police have any ulterior motive.
“Dare to struggle, dare to win #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, Lagos state.”
SaharaReporters had reported that the same Lagos State Command invited the National Coordinator of Take It Back (TIB) Movement, a prominent human rights advocacy organisation, Mr. Sanyaolu Juwon, for a meeting.
The invitation letter was dated September 24, 2024 and addressed to Juwon by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Intelligence Department, Lagos State Police Command, ACP Jaiyeoba Idowu Joseph.
The invitation which stated in its title that the TIB national leader will be meeting with the new commissioner of police in Lagos State, asked Juwon to attend the said meeting with the executive members of the organisation.
The invitation did not specifically point out that the meeting is about the scheduled #FearlessInOctober protests, but stated that it borders on issues of national interest.
Juwon and his executives, according to the invitation, are to be at the police commissioner’s office at the Lagos State Police Headquarters in Ikeja, the state capital, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 11am.
However, the organisation in a letter sighted by SaharaReporters on Wednesday proposed a virtual meeting with the police authorities instead of a physical meeting requested, citing the short notice of the invitation and inability of the executives of the organisation to meet up with the scheduled time of the invitation.
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