The Lagos State Police Command has said that allegations of a plan to arrest one of the supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, known as Flagboy was false.
Newsonline reports that the clarification followed a call out by Nigerians on the alleged police threat to arrest the flag boy for flying the Labour Party flag around Lagos with his fellow supporters.
Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement said flaying Labour Party flags in support of Peter Obi was not a criminal offence recognized by Nigeria constitution.
Hundeyin said, “No one is getting arrested! They have not constituted any nuisance; neither have they trespassed into anybody’s space,” he assured.
He however addmitted that the flag boys were approached at under bridge, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, by some police operatives for a fact-finding mission.
“Being a responsive organization, the police went on a fact-finding mission after calls were received. No more, no less,” he added.
Flag boy who has refused to disclose his name alleged on Thursday that men of Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command, approached him and his crew at Lekki Phase 1, threatening to arrest them for nuisance.
Professor of Law and human rights activist, Abdul Mahmud, also stated that the flag boy movement for the former governor of Anambra State’s presidential ambition did not breach any constitutional provision or electoral act.
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Professor Abdul said any action of the Lagos Police Command to arrest the flag boys will be illegal. He said, “There’s a law regulating how flags can be flown. It is called ‘Flags and Coat of Arms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
He added, “there’s nothing in the law that bars citizens from flying flags other than the Nigerian flag.
The LP/Obi/Obidient flag doesn’t in any way come near the flags that citizens need licenses to fly under Section 3 of the Act. The action of the police is illegal.”
2023 Election Not Based On Ethnicity, Nigeria Is In Coma- Peter Obi
Meanwhile, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has enjoined Nigerians to shun ethnicity while voting in the 2023 general election.
Peter Obi stated that the country is in coma and needs a competent leader to save its life. This he said was the reason why he is offering to be the president of the country come 2023.
Peter Obi said, “This election will not be based on ‘my turn’, ethnicity, and religion. It will be based on a Nigerian agenda to save Nigeria. Nigeria is in a coma, and it needs a specialist, and that is why I’m offering to save its life or it will die. I’m appealing to people to vote to save Nigeria, and to save Nigeria is to hire the best.”
He added, “I don’t want Nigerians to vote for me because I am from the South or on a regional basis. I want Nigerians to vote for me based on competence and what I can offer.”
Lamenting on the debt the country found herself and the ASUU strike which led to school closure for eight months, Obi said Nigeria needs a capable hand to pilot her affairs.
“This country will soon default on its debt servicing. This is what should be preoccupying us now.
“Universities were shut down for 8 months and we are talking about who we’ll vote for. Let’s deal with the issues.
“2023 should be the time Nigerians must elect a capable candidate to pilot the country’s affairs,” he said.
