*’Cancellation shows PDP Governors’ Chairman, Fayose is a spoiler’
“Just look at what that governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said, that dollar is N500 to $1. If he has shame, he shouldn’t be the one to say this at all. How do I mean? Have you forgotten that there are cases ongoing in court where evidences of $35 million given to him for his governorship election have been tendered? Fayose himself tried to deny those evidences but former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro had to return from his hideout abroad to come and join in the evidence at EFCC’s office where he confirmed that he actually gave the money to Fayose. Now, if $35 million is taken out of an economy and exchanged at a go, don’t you think we can have a situation leading to N500 to $1, which means there would already be dollars scarcity? Then what is Fayose talking about here?” The lawyer said.
As Change Agents as well as many good people of Nigeria await the arrival and resumption of President Muhammadu Buhari from his 10-day annual leave in 24 hours time, popular music star, Innocent Idibia a.k.a 2face, has backed out of his planned anti-government nationwide protest.
The African Queen crooner announced the cancellation of the protest via his Instagram page, Official2baba on Saturday evening.
In the video clip, 2face said, “Dear Nigerians, after due consultations, it has become clear that the #OneVoice Nigerian protest scheduled to hold in Lagos and Abuja on Monday the 6th of February is under serious threat of hijack by interests not aligned with our ideals. The point and intent am making is not worth the life of any Nigerian.
“It is a fact motivated by the need to demand a better deal for the ordinary Nigerian.
“I therefore announce the cancellation of the planned protest. We will share further information in due course… I appreciate the massive support and I am convinced that our voices have been heard.
“May God bless you all and may God bless Nigeria,” 2face concluded.
Recall that 2face had, a few weeks ago, called on Nigerians to join him in a nationwide protest against what he described as the unfavourable policies implemented by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, which have brought the Nigerian economy to its knees.
The protest which was initially slated to hold on the 5th of February 2017 was later shifted to Monday 6th so that it would coincide with the resumption day of President Buhari who has been on a 10-day working leave in London.
However, in what seemed like giving in to pressures from the APC-led Federal Government, 2face succumbed to shelving the planned protest after the Presidency and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni had pleaded and even “threatened to arrest him” should he continue with the planned protest.
Specifically, the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina had, while playing host in an interview with Lagos Talk 91.3fm, described the planned protest as coming from disgruntled people still living under the defeat mode of the 2015 election.
He had said thus: “This is a country of about 180 million people. It is impossible for 180 million people to think the same way. Yoruba has a saying that if you all sleep and put your heads in the same direction, then you are all foolish because you would be breathing in one another’s mouth and lungs.
“Don’t forget the last election and how it went. Somebody scored 12.5 million votes, another scored about 15 million votes. There are some people who are still in that election mode. They have not gotten out of it and till today, they are still living and ‘rheumatisizing’ about the past.
“What they don’t know is that, that past is gone and gone forever. Majority of those calling for the protest are still in election mode. Majority of them are people that have resolved not to see anything good in this administration simply because the man they wanted lost at the polls.”
Similarly, Buhari’s spokesperson on electronic media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie had also called the African Queen crooner to come to a national TV and explain his “beef” with Buhari instead of going on national newspapers.
According to her, “Nigerians would like 2Baba to explain the policies that he’s not happy with on National LIVE TV, as well as proffer alternative economic policies that would better serve all Nigerians. Not on newspapers that could have been written by anyone.
“That way, Nigerians will know it’s entirely his idea, that he understands what he’s doing, and acting in the interest of all Nigerians. Otherwise, we might assume that the protest is for those who miss the heist that happened under You know who. Nigerians are waiting. Thank you Sir,” she had said.
In support of the two above, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Owoseni, had threatened to stop or even arrest the crooner on the ground an intelligence report that some hoodlums equally planned on hijacking the protest to cause mayhem.
He had said: “Information reaching us revealed that some hoodlums are planning to hijack the peaceful protest and at such, we won’t allow it to hold in Lagos.
“We know that Tuface does not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand,” Owoseni said.
According to him, “no matter how good an intention is, hoodlums would always find a way to harass, rob and attack innocent members of the public who may wish to go about their lawful duties.”
However, despite the police’s warning, the pop artiste had vowed to go ahead with the peaceful protest especially as many stakeholders had equally voiced support for the protest.
Voicing his support for the protest and condemning the Lagos State Commissioner’s warning, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose had reminded Mr. Owoseni that “the duty of the police to secure Nigerians is mandatory, not optional. Therefore, if there is any intelligence report suggesting the possibility of criminals hijacking the process, it is the duty of the police to provide security cover for the protesters.”
Fayose had voiced his support for the planned protest by saying, “Like I said before, I support the protest. Nigerians are hungry and angry, our currency is now above N500 to $1. If Nigerians want to show their anger, no one should prevent them. Nepotism, extra judicial killings, disobedience to court order and human rights abuses must stop.”
But in his reaction, Lawyer Jimoh Saliu said the cancellation of the planned protest alone signposts a failure of Fayose to carry his anti-government effort through. He said it was a show that the Ekiti State governor is unpopular but only looks like having a voice because of newspapers.
“Just look at what that governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said, that dollar is N500 to $1. If he has shame, he shouldn’t be the one to say this at all. How do I mean? Have you forgotten that there are cases ongoing in court where evidences of $35 million given to him for his governorship election have been tendered? Fayose himself tried to deny those evidences but former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro had to return from his hideout abroad to come and join in the evidence at EFCC’s office where he confirmed that he actually gave the money to Fayose. Now, if $35 million is taken out of an economy and exchanged at a go, don’t you think we can have a situation leading to N500 to $1, which means there would already be dollars scarcity? Then what is Fayose talking about here?” The lawyer said.
