Nigerian Police Block Protest Called By Music Star

Singer 2Face Idibia, who is organizing the protest, is demanding an "urgent explanation into the reckless economic downturn nationwide". Pictured above is his most recent Instagram post urges people to unite on Monday.

Nigerian police said Thursday they would not allow an anti-government protest planned in the commercial hub Lagos by music star 2Face.

AFP report continues:

The popular Afro-Pop artist, whose real name is Innocent Idibia, called on Nigerians earlier this week to march on February 6 in protest of the government's handling of the country's economic crisis.

"Information reaching us revealed that some hoodlums are planning to hijack the peaceful protest. As such, we won't allow it to hold in Lagos," Lagos police commissioner Fatai Owoseni told AFP.

"We know that 2Face does not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand," Owoseni said.

In a video posted on his Facebook account Tuesday, 2Face urged Nigerians to come out in a "peaceful and articulate manner" for the march.

"The need for urgent solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians has become very clear," he said in the video.

"Things are not getting better for the majority, we are still where we are, poor and desperate. I will no longer be quiet."

It's unusual in Nigeria for a celebrity to take such a vocal political position.

But when 2Face floated the idea of a protest last month the idea quickly gained traction in a country frustrated by a galloping inflation rate and sluggish growth.

Nigeria's fortunes fell with the collapse in the global price of oil, triggering a recession that has been aggravated by rebel attacks on oil infrastructure and controversial monetary policies, which have led to a debilitating shortage of dollars.

We Will Protect 2face-Led Anti-Government Protest — Nigeria Police

2face, the African Queen crooner, recently took to his Instagram handle, @official2baba, calling on his fans and followers to join in the nationwide protest scheduled for February 5.

On January 30, 2017, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, says the command is aware of a proposed demonstration which popular artiste, 2face Idibia, plans to lead on February 5.

Mr. Owoseni said this on Monday while addressing journalists in Lagos.

The police chief also paraded the publisher of Biafra Times and nine others for allegedly publishing and circulating seditious and malicious publication.

In his address on the protest, the police chief said although his command is yet to be officially notified, he assured that the police would not allow unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest.

2face, the African Queen crooner, recently took to his Instagram handle, @official2baba, calling on his fans and followers to join in the nationwide protest scheduled for February 5.

He stated: “First Massive Nationwide Protests.

“A call for good governance.
A call for urgent explanation into the reckless economic downturn nationwide….to come out and protest this obnoxious and baseless policies and excuses of the government of the day.”

Reacting, popular comedian, Bovi Ugboma, said he would not join the protest.

Bovi on his Instagram handle: ‏@officialBovi stated, “Boycott” is too strong a word to describe my not attending. I won’t be there. Simple. It doesn’t define whether I support it or not.

“I am not joining the protest, and stop saying ‘we’ and ‘us.’ You don’t belong…..my life is not governed by your opinions of me.”

Similarly, popular Yoruba actress, Funke Adesiyan, who disagreed with 2face over the plan said that protest was not the only option.

The actress, who recently completed a course in film-making and directing at the New York Film Academy in the U.S, stressed the importance of youth participation in governance.

The Yoruba actress who contested and lost the Oyo State House of Assembly election under the umbrella of PDP in 2015, stated on her Instagram handle, @funkeadesiyan, that,

“When people ask me why I joined politics, I tell them from the truest of my heart that it is because I got tired of how things were being done in my country.

“It’s not enough for us to protest, it’s more important for us, youths of this beloved nation, to get involved in governance. You could try many times before you achieve it,” Adesiyan stated.