You’ve Betrayed Us For Linking PSM To #FearlessinOctober Protest, Okereafor Fires Ogun Govt, State Attorney-General
ABEOKUTA – The leadership of Progressive Students Movement (PSM) has knocked the Ogun State Government and Attorney General of the state for linking the body to the planned #FearlessInOctober protest.
Recall that, an Ogun State High Court on Monday restricted the students body and other associated organizations from protesting on major streets of the state to three designated centres.
A statement by Nigeria’s President of PSM, Ambassador Bestman Okereafor, described the development as disturbing and highly insensitive as it’s most capable of triggering provocation that may lead to protest.
Okereafor said it was disheartening that the government would ascribe the planning of the protest to PSM, other organizations, and persons, considering the level of loyalty of the body to the state government.
He stressed that the state government failed to reach out to the movement to
know their stand on the protest, despite having existing communication channels.
The national president noted that PSM was the first body to dissociate self from the protest, saying the body has never at any point in time disclosed its participation in the protest.
The statement reads, “The attention of the leadership of the foremost PAN African Socialist Movement, the Progressive Students Movement (PSM), has been drawn to a purported court injunction order with regards to the Octoner 1, 2024 protest being planned by some persons.
“PSM finds this development disturbing and highly insensitive as it’s most capable of triggering provocation that may lead to protest, considering the level of loyalty of the body to the state government.
“It is on record that PSM was the first to dissociate itself from the end bad governance protest because of obvious reasons of possible hijack which came to pass. PSM has never at any time said it will be partaking in any #fearlessinoctober protest, be it at public events or on media.”
On the next line of action, he said “We are widely consulting and we will communicate with our compatriots and chart a way forward over this act of disloyalty from the Ogun State government towards our constituency despite our unflinching supports and loyalty to the state government over the years. It is worrisome that at no point did the state government reach out to us to inquire about our stand on the said proposed protest”.
Okereafor stated “We say no to tyranny, we say no to oppression, we say yes to freedom and social justice, even as we call on the Government at all levels to consider dialogue and introducing policies that will mitigate the effects of economic hardship! “.
