City Boy Movement defends Lagos CP’s presence at inauguration, rejects claims of political endorsement

City Boy Movement has dismissed claims that the attendance of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, at the inauguration of its Lagos State chapter amounted to political endorsement by the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response, Bashir Ahmad, OON, the movement said public commentary suggesting that the police chief’s presence at the event reflected institutional support for the organisation was inaccurate and based on speculation.

According to the group, the attendance of senior security officials at public gatherings should not automatically be interpreted as political affiliation or endorsement.

The statement read: “For the avoidance of doubt, the mere presence of the Commissioner of Police at a public event should not, without more, be interpreted as political endorsement, partisan participation or institutional alignment with the organisers of that event.”

The movement explained that security agencies routinely attend or deploy personnel to public events as part of their constitutional responsibility to maintain law and order, regardless of the organisers or nature of the gathering.

It noted that such responsibilities cover political, civic, religious, educational, professional and community events where security arrangements are necessary.

The statement further stressed: “Public officers, particularly those charged with maintaining law and order, regularly attend or deploy personnel to public gatherings in the discharge of their official responsibilities. Such responsibilities extend to political, civic, religious, professional, educational and community events where security considerations require their presence or supervision. Their attendance at such events, standing alone, does not constitute support for, affiliation with or endorsement of any organisation or cause.”

The City Boy Movement also reiterated that the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force is to protect lives and property, preserve public peace and ensure security during lawful public assemblies without discrimination.

It added that these statutory duties should not be viewed as evidence of political bias.

The statement said: “The constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force include the preservation of public peace, the protection of lives and property, the prevention and detection of crime, and the maintenance of law and order during lawful public assemblies. These responsibilities are owed equally to all persons and organisations without discrimination and should not be misconstrued as evidence of institutional bias or political preference.”

The organisation maintained that it was unfair to conclude that the police had abandoned professional neutrality simply because the state Commissioner of Police attended the inauguration.

It stated: “Accordingly, it is neither fair nor accurate to infer, solely from the Commissioner’s attendance, that the Nigeria Police Force has taken a partisan position or abandoned its obligation of professional neutrality. Public institutions should be assessed on the basis of objective facts rather than conjecture or speculation.”

The movement further said it respects the independence of security agencies and has never sought preferential treatment from any government institution.

It said: “The City Boy Movement respects the constitutional role and institutional independence of all security agencies. We neither seek nor expect preferential treatment from any agency of government. Like every law-abiding organisation, we expect only that our lawful activities will continue to enjoy the protection guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other applicable laws.”

The group also expressed appreciation to security personnel for ensuring that the inauguration was conducted peacefully and without any security breach.

It noted that professional policing helps strengthen democratic institutions by guaranteeing citizens the freedom to assemble lawfully.

The statement added: “We equally acknowledge and appreciate the professional security arrangements that ensured the peaceful, orderly and incident-free conduct of the inauguration. Professional policing contributes significantly to public confidence in democratic institutions and facilitates the exercise of citizens’ constitutional freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly.”

The City Boy Movement urged Nigerians, stakeholders and public commentators to avoid spreading unfounded narratives capable of eroding confidence in public institutions.

It stated: “We therefore urge members of the public, stakeholders and commentators to exercise restraint, promote factual discourse and refrain from attributing partisan motives where no credible evidence exists. Responsible public commentary strengthens democratic institutions, whereas speculation and misinformation unnecessarily undermine public confidence in institutions established to serve all Nigerians.”

Reaffirming its commitment to democratic values, the movement concluded: “The City Boy Movement remains steadfast in its commitment to peaceful democratic engagement, responsible political participation, respect for the rule of law, and constructive nation-building in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”