Nigeria should be marking its sixty years as an independent nation this Thursday, October 1 with fanfare and pageantry. The drums should rolled out so the citizens can do the dances for which they are known.
It is not quite so. There is apprehension instead jubilation; there fear instead of cheer. Orders are coming from various corners and authorities, curtailing liberties, banning or restricting movements.
In Ogun State, the government has imposed a curfew from 10pm Wednesday to 6am Thursday. Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, announced this in statement on Wednesday.
He said the curfew would hold from 10.00 pm to 6.00 am on both days.
The order also restricted the movement of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada, from all major roads in the state from 10.pm on Wednesday to 6.00 am on Friday.
The government’s statement was titled: ‘Ogun opts for low-key 60th independence anniversary’, said this became expedient as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to ensure public health, safety, and security.
“Additional safety measures to ensure that the 60th Independence is celebrated in an atmosphere of peace and security include: “There will be a curfew in Ogun State, effective tonight (Wednesday) from 10:00pm to tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 06:00am.
“This curfew will again be effective tomorrow (Thursday) at the same time, 10:00pm-06:00am.
“Restriction of operations of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada, from all major roads in the state from 10.pm tonight (Wednesday) all through to 6.00am on Friday
“Operations of all commercial buses are also suspended from 10.00pm tonight till Friday morning;
“Taxi cabs are permitted to operate within the hours outside the daily curfew period. However, the number of passengers remains limited to a maximum of three only.
“All forms of gathering in the state, except the State announced Independence Day Anniversary programme, are restricted to a maximum of 20 persons from 10.00pm tonight till 6.00am on Friday.
It emphasized that “no procession whatsoever is allowed.
“Owners and operators of hotels, suites guest houses, motels, and such establishments providing accommodation should note that the restriction on operations has not been lifted;
“All residents are to monitor and report any suspicious movements and activities in their neighbourhood to the security agencies.”
In adjoining Lagos State, Police Command has banned protests and rallies in the state on the Independence Day, according to a statement issued by the spokesman of the command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday.
He quoted Hakeem Odumosu, the state Commissioner of Police, as instructing officers and men of the command “to disallow any unlawful societies, under whatever disguise, from staging rallies or protests within the state on Thursday, 1st October 2020”.
Adejobi said “the command will not allow any gatherings, rallies, or protests against the sovereignty of Nigeria in the state just as he announced the cancellation of the 60th Independence anniversary parade by the Lagos State government.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu according to the release also warned parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from any rallies, protests or be mobilised to wage war against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or else they (parents or guardians) of any youths arrested for such activities will be prosecuted.”
The CP, however, appealed to the general public to “be law-abiding, desist from violence and any act that is capable of disrupting the sovereignty of Nigeria”.
The Police also have a word for groups agitating for self-rule or independence for ethnic nationalities. From the West, the
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South-West, Mr Leye Oyebade, warned those behind the call for Oduduwa Republic to ensure they do not stage any demonstration or protest in support of their demand, on Thursday.
Demands for self-rule have been rising in recent weeks, with the most strident being those from the Oduduwa Republic and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The Police boss warned a procession by such a group could trigger a crisis, especially at this time when the nation was celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Oyebade declared there would be Police patrol in the entire South-West states on Thursday, promising that the Police would ensure that the peace being enjoyed in the region was not disrupted by anybody or group of persons.
According to him, the order came from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu.
He also had a word for Nigerian parents: “Our parents should not allow their children to be used for any unwarranted procession. This is the independence of our nation and we are not supposed to be fighting.
“Our men will be out on patrol. On no account should anybody come out to disrupt the peace we are enjoying. The police will make sure that nobody is allowed to cause crisis here.
“To those who have been making inflammatory statements, those that we have warned, we have their records. Nobody should do anything to destabilise this nation.”
