[Mhiz Rebecca]

Nigerian pop artist Innocent Idibia, also known as
Tuface, has called off the nationwide marches he
organised to protest against the government’s
handling of the economy.
Tuface cited security concerns for the cancellation
though he initially insisted on going ahead with
the marches scheduled for Lagos and Abuja in
spite of repeated warnings from the Lagos State
Police Command and Nigeria Police High
Command.
“After due consultations, it has become clear that
the One Voice Nigeria protest scheduled to hold in
Lagos and Abuja on Monday the 6th of February is
under serious threat of hijack by interests not
aligned with our ideals,” he said in a video post
on his Instagram page.
Nigerian police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, had
cited same negative security implications of the
protests for the reason the police advised Tuface
and other groups not to proceed with their plans.
“The Nigeria Police Force is currently in
possession of credible intelligence reports that
other interest groups are equally planning to hold
a counter protest/marches on the same days at the
same places/cities as the Tuface group. Moshood
said in a statement on Friday.
“If these various planned protests/demonstrations
are held as scheduled, that there may be a
breakdown of law and order, with attendant loss
of lives and property.”
Tuface insisted his intentions for spearheading the
plans to protest were noble and that it would be
counterproductive for him to ignore the adverse
security reports.
“The point I’m intent on making is not worth the
life of any Nigerian. I mean, it is in fact motivated
by the need to demand a better deal for the
ordinary Nigerian,” he said.
The pop star has been an advocate for youth’s
participation in politics with much of his activism
devoted to campaigning against electoral violence.
Through his “Vote Not Fight: Election No Be War”
initiative, he sought to dissuade youths from
engaging in political thuggery.
The cancelled protests, he said, were organised to
promote good governance and to spur the
government into formulating policies that would
halt the rot in the Nigerian economy.
This is “a call for good governance,” he said. “A
call for an urgent explanation into the reckless
economic downturn nationwide. A call for
nationwide protests as we say No to the Executive,
No to legislatures, No to judiciary…. You have all
failed us.”
He said there was a “need for Nigerians to rise
against what is happening in this country having
waited patiently for the legislatures that were
elected to represent the people all to no avail.”