#FearlessInOctober Protests: Take-It-Back Movement Executives Opt For Virtual Meeting With Lagos Police Commissioner Or Rescheduled Date Over Invitation, Cite Short Notice
Human rights advocacy organisation, Take It Back (TIB) Movement, has responded to an invitation sent to its National Coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon for a meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
The organisation in a letter sighted by SaharaReporters on Wednesday proposed a virtual meeting with the police authorities instead of a physical meeting requested, citing the short notice of the invitation and inability of the executives of the organisation to meet up with the scheduled time of the invitation.
SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that the Lagos Police Command had invited the National Coordinator of Take It Back Movement, Mr. Juwon, and the executive members of the organisation for a meeting.
The invitation letter dated September 24, 2024 and addressed to Juwon by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Intelligence Department, Lagos State Police Command, ACP Jaiyeoba Idowu Joseph, stated in its title that the TIB national leader will be meeting with the new commissioner of police in Lagos State.
The invitation did not specifically point out that the meeting is about the scheduled #FearlessInOctober protests, but stated that it borders on issues of national interest.
Juwon and his executives, according to the invitation, are to be at the police commissioner’s office at the Lagos State Police Headquarters in Ikeja, the state capital, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 11am.
But responding to the invitation, TIB through its legal representative, Inibehe Effiong Chambers, acknowledged receipt of the letter but said, “Regrettably, due to the short notice and the fact that several key members of the TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT are currently out of Lagos State, attending the physical meeting scheduled for tomorrow, 25th September, 2024 may be inpracticable.
“In the light of this, we respectfully propose a virtual meeting as an alternative as this would enable all necessary participants to join remotely and contribute productively to the discussions.”
The organisation, however, added that “if a physical meeting is essential, we would be pleased to reschedule for another date in early October 2024 when all team members will be available. Please confirm-your preference”.
Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, had reaffirmed the scheduled second phase of the nationwide protests against acute hunger and poverty under President Bola Tinubu’s administration tagged #FearlessInOctober.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) party, has said the protests should not be regarded as only meant for Generation Z (Gen Z), but for all ages.
