#EndBadGovernance Protest Day 3: PAF Commends Police for ‘Aborting Threat to Public Peace’ in Lagos

The Patriotism Awareness Forum (PAF) has commended the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police (NPF) for “aborting threat to public peace” in Lagos by protesters on Day 3 of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest.

This was contained in a statement co-signed by the convener of PAF, Nelson Ekujumi, and the co-convener, Peter Oparah and made available to Thelensng on Sunday.

The PAF said it has been monitoring the protest, which it described as insurrection and anarchy by faceless and unknown organisers which started on August 1, 2024.

“PAF is once again compelled to commend the officers and men of the Lagos State command of the Nigeria Police force led by the Commissioner of Police for their professionalism and diligence in foiling an attempt by the protesters of rage to invade Lagos streets to unleash their evil agenda on the people on Day 3 of the protest.

“Information gathered from the Gani Fawehinmi freedom park venue of the protest in Lagos, revealed that the protesters seeing how unpopular the protest has become with the mass of the Nigerian people boycotting it, decided against rationality, logic and a subsisting court order by attempting to leave the park and go into the streets out of frustration and anger, but were resisted by the police and the threat to public peace averted”.

“Since the beginning of this unpopular and threat to national peace and unity protest of rage organized by anti democratic elements and agents of destabilization, we have watched in admiration how the Nigeria police throughout the country have displayed a high level of professionalism and civility in ensuring that in the exercise of the protesters right to protest, that the rights of other law abiding Nigerians who are not part of the protest of rage is not suppressed and violated and to the glory of God, their performance in this constitutional responsibility has been excellent. We urge the police and other security agencies not to drop the baton in the remaining days of the protest.

“We have also seen how the protest as at Day 3 has become limited to just 2 or 3 states out of 36 and the FCT Abuja which further confirms that the protest is unpopular, anti people and boycotted because the people have seen through the deceit of an action meant to take advantage of their situation and further worsen their economic conditions”.

According to PAF, the Nigeria economy is undergoing some retooling and re-engineering for a better tomorrow by the President Bola Tinubu administration and this repositioning has come with great inconveniences and sacrifices to be made by every member of the society.

It highlighted that it is also aware of the relentless efforts of the government to cushion the pains temporarily as well as plant the economy on solid grounds for a better tomorrow through policies and programmes which require time and support from the citizenry for everyone’s collective good.

The forum pleaded with Nigerians to give the present administration more time, be patient, persevere and vigilant so that “agents of destabilization and anarchy are not allowed to railroad us into actions that are inimical to the peace, unity, progress and prosperity which we are optimistic of witnessing in Nigeria very soon”.

“As the protesters of rage continue with their rage, we appeal to the Nigerian people to continue to shun the unpopular anti peoples protest and remain peaceful, resolutely focused and committed to the peace and tranquility of our fatherland for a better tomorrow”, the statement added.