The coalition of support groups, Lagos4ObiDatti and the Peter Obi Support Network, says it is set to hold its four million man march on Saturday (today) in designated areas in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Publicity and Media Committee for the coalition, Christopher Ademuyiwa, noted that the march would hold simultaneously in three different locations in the Lagos metropolis.
He listed the locations as Admiralty Gate, Lekki Phase 1; Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA, Ikeja; and FHA Field, 23 Road, FESTAC Town.
But the Federal High in Lagos had on Wednesday made an order stopping the organisers of the ‘#Obidatti23 Forward Ever’ rally from converging on the Lekki tollgate.
Justice Daniel Osiagor, who made the order while delivering judgment in a lawsuit which sought to stop the rally, said the organisers could only march through the toll plaza but must not gather there.
The judge directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.
The plaintiffs, who filed the suit, had argued that the rally could cause a breakdown of law and order and a repeat of October 20, 2020 #EndSARS incident, where soldiers were said to have opened fire on peaceful protesters who gathered at the toll gate to protest police brutality.
However, the Lagos state coordinator of the Peter Obi Support Network, Mr Phil Uno-Ogba, assured residents that the rally would not be violent.
“I can assure you that ObIdient people are peaceful people, and we are going to march peacefully all through the rally. There won’t be any need for violence,” he noted.
Similarly, the national Spokesman for the Peter Obi Support Network, Mr Jones Onwuasoanya, told Saturday PUNCH that, “We are not unaware of the fact that some elements are fearful of Obi’s rising popularity among Nigerians and are resorting to self-help to try to disrupt the rallies. That notwithstanding, we are not deterred to continue to do our best to ensure we assemble peacefully in line with the laws of the land.
“On our part, we are very committed to a peaceful event, not just at this oncoming rally but throughout the period of the campaign and on election day proper.”
However, the Lagos State Police Command on Friday vowed that they would not tolerate any atom of violence before, during, or after the march.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, titled, “Rally will not be allowed at Lekki Tollgate’, the command said residents should not be misled into converging on the tollgate for any procession or rally.
