By Christopher Oji
Policemen deployed to Lekki Toll gate, Lagos ,have praised supporters of Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi for adhering to the Court Order restraining them from converging at the place for their rally.
The Policemen, said they were impressed with the conduct and comportment of the people involved in the on going rally.
A Senior Police Officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not supposed to the press, said ,” We have been here (Toll gate), since yesterday, keeping vigil ,so that Obi supporters would not flout the Court order. But , I must confess, we are overwhelmed by what we have seen. The people conducted themselves very well. You can see how they gave way to motorists and passers-by. They did not barricade the road. They are not distorting traffic. We are getting information from our men from other areas and they commended the Obidents as they are called “.
Another senior police officer, said,” we are overwhelmed with what we are seeing. Really, if the youths had decided to flout the Court Order, we would have called for reinforcement , because we can’t confront the mammoth crowd ,but the coordinators of the event did well. They did not give us troubles. We are not sent here to shoot anyone, but there is no way something awry wouldn’t have happened if the people had flouted the order. Actually, we are sent to prevent them from disobeying the law, and we would have used maximum force, but we thank the youth that so far so good, we have no confrontation between the police and the youths”.
As at the time of filling this report, the entire Lagos was shutdown by Obi supporters, who were chanting songs like ” carry me de go, Obi carry me de go new Naija’ All we are saying give is Obi”.
The youths have therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), to give a level playing ground for all candidates to thrive and to make sure that nobody would be disfranchised.
However, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he would brief the press later on the development,” I will say something later, but for now I can’t say anything till further notice”.
The Lagos State Police Command had earlier warned to deal with anyone who converged at Lekki Toll gate for rally.