Yoruba Nation Rally To Hold In Lagos Despite Police Warning

The Ilana Omo Oodua has restated that the pro-Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday will go on as scheduled despite the police stance that no rally would be allowed.

The group, which is headed by a renowned historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, said in a statement on Friday that it had written to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and urged then to ensure that criminals do not hijack the rally.

The Communications Manager of Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr Maxwell Adeleye, who issued the statement said the previous rallies were not hijacked and Lagos rally must not be an exception.

The statement read, “The IOO, in another letter to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, and copied to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Sanwoolu by its General Secretary and Legal Adviser, George Akinola and 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 police.

“Our rally sheduled to hold on Saturday will still hold 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.”

The Lagos State CP had on Thursday warned that the police would not allow any rally in the state on Saturday.