The proposed nationwide protests by members of the #RevolutionNow movement on Monday failed to take place in Ondo State.
Reports said it was business as usual in Ondo, and especially in the state capital Akure as people were seen going about their daily activities freely.
However, heavily armed security forces have been deployed to strategic locations in the state capital in anticipation of possible protests.
According to the spokesman of the Ondo State Police Command, Femi Joseph, the state Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie ordered their men across the state to be on red alert.
Joseph said: “We have a good number of our men in strategic areas of the metropolis. Deputy Commissioner of Police(DCP) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) commanding are in the streets with our men, monitoring the situation.
“It is the right of every individual citizen to protest, but the manner and the lexicon they(organisers) are using ‘revolution’ depicts forceful takeover of a legitimate government in power. No security agencies would allow that to any groups to attempt to overthrow the government. Forceful takeover is no longer fashionable all over the world. No country would allow that.
“The only means of change now is through the ballot. That’s why the proposed protest was condemned by many Nigerians. That’s why we are going to resist any vestiges of revolution.
Meanwhile, the #RevolutionNow protest in Osun State turned violent following the alleged police brutalization of a woman as well as the alleged harassment of some journalists who were on ground to cover the protest.
Reports said the woman, identified as Sariyu Akanmu, 60, was hawking ‘fufu’ but later joined the protesters when she was descended upon by police officers, while a journalist who reports for Newsdirect newspaper, Mr. Sunday Oguntuyi, also got a rough treatment from security operatives.
Sources also revealed that scores of protesters were stopped from embarking on procession across the streets of the state capital, Oshogbo, by fierce looking police officers who restricted them to the correspondents’ chapel, where the protesters had earlier addressed journalists.
