The Lagos state Police Command on Monday, November 16, threatened to shut down the Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, over a programme scheduled to evaluate the lessons and task of the #EndSars movement.
AllNews reports that the programme tagged "EndSars Movement: Lessons and Tasks" organised by Seun, a singer and son of late Fela Kuti was scheduled to hold Tuesday, November 17.
In a letter sent to the Kuti family and manager of the Afrika Shrine, the police said the planned meeting was unacceptable, while citing the recent events that trailed the #EndSars protest.
Recall that in November, protest rocked major cities in Nigeria and it took a new turn after it was hijacked by hoodlums who destroyed, looted public and private properties.
According to the police, any fraction that emerges from the event will be tagged "deliberate action to sabotage the restoration of peace in Lagos."
The letter read in part “It is on this premise that I write that such a gathering or meeting planned to be hosted at your venue is not welcome at this perilous time when the security of the nation is trying to find her feet to stabilize all threat to life and properties.
“You are hereby warned to suspend such gathering as any infraction that may emerge from this gathering will be tagged a deliberate action to sabotage the transition and restoration of the peace in Lagos State by the Lagos state Government and the Nigeria police Force,” the letter to the Kuti family partly reads.
Reacting to the content of the letter, Seun said he respects his family's decision, but vowed to continue with the event, but
He said, “I respect my family’s decision not to hold the event but I will still go ahead with all the other organisations to launch the Movement of the People tomorrow and start our political resistance to the tyranny of this oppressive regime.
READ ALSO: Yomi Fabiyi: #EndSars Brought About 'Celebrity Revolution'
“This is a meeting, just a meeting of organisations and they are basically banning the right of association. Why are they afraid of the people organising? What is democratic about this act?"
So yesterday the government called my eldest sister @yeniakuti and threatened to close the shrine if I hold my event there tmr and also sent a letter to back it up. I respect my families decision not to hold the event as is but I will still go ahead with all the other... pic.twitter.com/ZKpSkhN242
— Seun Anikulapo Kuti (@RealSeunKuti) November 16, 2020
“The last time we tried to launch the government quickly called curfew and this time they have used threats but you can’t stop the will of the people.”
...organizations to launch THE MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE tomorrow and start our political resistance to the tyranny of this oppressive regime. Slide left and you will see the flier. This is a meeting, just a meeting of organizations and they are basically banning the right of... pic.twitter.com/Sm2dz0d7Cm
— Seun Anikulapo Kuti (@RealSeunKuti) November 16, 2020
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