Ikeja NBA defies police in colourful protest

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch defied the Lagos State police command on Thursday as it embarked on its planned protest against the new land use charge introduced by the state government despite an earlier threat of arrest.

The protest held about 24 hours after a police siege at the lawyers’ secretariat in Lagos to intimidate officials and ultimately prevail on them not to embark on the protest because it was scheduled for same day as President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state.

Joining the Ikeja NBA at the march were the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Joint Action Front, as well as other civil society groups.

The protest was staged in different parts of Lagos including the Tejuosho market in Yaba; Ojuelegba; Ayilara and Itire road; Agege market; and the Pen Cinema roundabout.

Addressing the crowd, Adeshina Ogunlana, the chairman of the Ikeja NBA, reiterated his earlier position that Lagosians should ignore any land use charge notice served them by the state government.

“Do not pay these taxes. Lagos belongs to the people and not Ambode. He wants to use your head to build a mega city,” Ogunlana said.

“Our protest is a continuation of the sensitisation of the people not to pay Ambode’s toxic tax. They think they can do anything and get away with it but we are opposing and we call on well-meaning Lagosians to oppose it and we are sure the tax will not hold in Lagos”.

Ogunlana said those in government in Lagos are enemies of the people, noting out that they had forgotten that “the same people they are trying to kill voted them into office.”

Read also: LAGOS: Protest during Buhari’s visit and be arrested, police threatens NBA

“When they were asking for our votes, they promised us change, they promised cheap houses, cheap transportation. But today, they are sucking our blood.

“Lagosians, don’t be deceived, shine your eyes, Land Use Charge would lead to inflation, increase in rent, increase in the cost of transportation, increase in the cost of food.”

Speaking about the police threat, Ogunlana said, “We have dared the commissioner of police in Lagos, Imohimi Edgar, who said anybody that comes out to exercise their fundamental rights will be dealt with. We have come out and people have accepted us without their police protection. This is a democracy.”

 

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