We’ll provide security for Soyinka, Ojukwu, and others — Police

The Nigeria Police Force has promised to provide adequate security for Nigerians who will today protest the failure of President Umaru Yar’Adua to hand over power to his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Those lined up for the rally tagged, ‘Enough is enough’ include Prof. Wole Soyinka, former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Femi Falana.
Though the police said they were yet to be informed about the rally, they said that since their duty was to protect lives and property, they would not wait before doing their job.
The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said the Police would provide security at all the expected routes the protesters would to pass through.
He said the police would not stop the rally, adding that the police would reciprocate what they did during the last labour rally when they made sure that no one was molested.
Ajayi said, “You remember that during the last rally, police provided security at all the routes and vulnerable points to forestall hijacking by hoodlums.
“We will do that tomorrow. We will provide security at all the routes, corners and key locations so as to prevent the hoodlums from hijacking the rally.
“We will not stop the rally even though we are yet to be formally told about it. Our job is to provide security and protect lives and property. We do not need any invitation before doing that.”
Meanwhile, Soyinka on Monday said Nigerians should get prepared to embark on mass protest against how the leadership of the nation was being handled.
He also said that economic crime was currently being committed in the country due to the inability of Yar‘Adua to instruct his cabinet members on what to do.
He said this during his visit to Lagos State Agricultural Training Institute, Epe, stressing that most ministers in the cabinet now worked without taking instruction from anybody.
The playwright, who was in the institute to motivate the students who were undergoing training under the state Agriculture Youth Empowerment Scheme, called on Nigerians to protest the absence of the President now.
He said, ”Your President is away for more than 40 days and some of you are here planting cassava. The ministers are enjoying themselves with the absence of Mr. President.”
Soyinka, who is set to write a play on Agriculture, said that he had spent part of his life as a farmer.