by Chi Ibe
.Photo: channelstv
Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) and other members of a coalition are said to have outsmarted security authorities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State yesterday after they changed the venue for a rally to protest against repeated assaults on democracy in the state by some people.
Surveillance helicopters, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), policemen in Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and patrol vehicles were said to have been deployed to prevent the “Defending democracy rally” organised by a coalition of activists but had turned up at the wrong venue.
NDCSC Chairman, Anyakwee Nsirimovu who described yesterday as a bad day for democracy, said that in the coalition’s letter to Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu to provide minimal security, Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt was indicated as the rally venue, but they converged on Liberation Stadium, Nigerian Eye reports.
The Police were said to have turned up battle-ready at the Isaac Boro Park and sealed off the place while riot and regular policemen were on guard, meanwhile the coalition’s members were already gathering at the Liberation Stadium for the rally that planned activity for 9 am.
[READ: “We cannot guarantee their safety”: Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana warned to stay away from Rivers]
Authorities finally realised why no activist turned up and were tipped off at 9am. They arrived just in time at the Liberation Stadium with two APCs and many patrol vehicles sealing off the main gate of the stadium and making those caught to do a frog-jump.
Sources say the police dispersed the invited activists and members of the coalition from the nine states of the Niger Delta, who had gathered at the stadium, but the coalition members and activists regrouped at a nearby private multipurpose hall on Stadium Road where they addressed reporters.
At the multipurpose hall, Nsirimovu described police action as a “really unfortunate” situation where people who denounced violence were intimidated by the police not to participate in a rally designed to be peaceful.:
“Impunity and abuse of the rule of law will not be allowed in Rivers State. Police are not neutral in Rivers crisis. Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu must be immediately redeployed – in line with the resolution of the National Assembly,” he said.
“We planned a peaceful rally, but Mbu’s policemen took over the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt – in a show of force, intimidating law-abiding citizens, who fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. It is a bad day for democracy in Rivers State.
“Freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly are guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but jettisoned by Mbu’s policemen. The need for peace, security and participatory democracy in Rivers State cannot be overemphasised.
“Police permit is not needed before protesting or having a rally in a democracy. Mbu allowed Niger Delta militants to recently protest on the streets of Port Harcourt. Why did he ask his men to intimidate the members of the civil society coalition and law-abiding citizens?”
All the way from Lagos, Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran, said he and other activists were supporting true democracy and human rights.
Pple r stil pointin dia fingers 2d wrong direction. In any relationship where 3rd party comes in they’r bound 2hv problem.
Stop blamin GEJ and his wife & face d northern governors who r usin Ameachi 2set conflict in d south-south zone.
Nw dat zone is confuse they’r nw makin consultatns on hw 2 clinch 2d presid. Seat. It is obvious dat wit dis situation GEJ may lose d seat cos of d distractns frm home.
wat a dark era in Rivers!