Despite the warning by the police that they will not tolerate any for of rally in Lagos, the organisers of the rally and the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), vowed to go ahead with the rally today.
Communications Manager of the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said the rally would still take place “without any fear or intimidation, and we promise to be peaceful like we have always been.
“We have been peaceful, orderly and lawful at everywhere we have visited. Therefore, we call on the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the rally is not hijacked by hoodlums.
“We are happy that the police already know that hoodlums are likely to hijack the rally. Now, we call on the police to ensure such does not happen like it didn’t happen in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun states respectively where we’ve held our rallies.
“It is the duty of the police to safeguard our peaceful demonstration and protect us. On our own part, we promise to cooperate with the police towards ensuring that the rally is peaceful and orderly.”
In a separate letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, General Secretary and Legal Adviser of IOO, Arc. George Akinola and Barr. Olasupo Ojo respectively, urged the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the rally is peaceful, orderly and not hijacked by hoodlums as earlier insinuated by the police.
The group is headed by History professor and Second Republic Senator Banji Akintoye.
