The protest was lead by Joint
Action Front [JAF] which took place at the Nigeria Labour Congress
Yaba-Ojuelegba road link Lagos yesterday which resulted in traffic being
grounded on the Yaba-Ojuelegba road link. Policemen formed a preventive
wall in their armed and hefty presence at the take-off venue of the
protest at NLC building, but the determined leadership of the Joint
Action Front [JAF] ignored the advice of the police to abort the
procession. The police also stationed men at other strategic locations
and arrested any person perceived to be headed towards the protest
warm-up venue.
The police, conscious that the rally would turn huge,
as other motorbike operators were reportedly waiting at other road
junctions to join in, inched towards leaders of the procession to
negotiate peace.
JAF Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, engaged the
police team and suggested among other things that "if Fashola still
smokes despite warnings that tobacco smokers are liable to die young;
motorbike operators also have a right to continue their operations with
provided warnings that bike passengers are liable to be injured in an
accident".
As it became apparent that the police team might
not be able to handle the growing crowd, the police barricaded the road
with one of their vans. Protesters however seized the road and sat on it
until several pleas got JAF leadership to lead the protesters back to
the NLC building for an invitation to discussion the matter of the ban
on motorcycles with State officials.
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