By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Another round of protests against hardship is scheduled for October 1.This is despite the fact that some of those who protested recently are still detained across the country. What can you say about it?
Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest. And that right shouldn’t be given to government. We cannot live in a country that pretends to be in a democracy, at the same time, we are disallowing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It is no longer that the Tinubu regime is not happy. What is important is that the country is in a terrible shape, Nigerians are aggrieved and have the right to protest. In fact, Nigerians have the right to protest everyday. If people choose to embark on indefinite protest until the issues in the country are addressed, it is within their constitutional rights. The constitution did not limit the duration of protest or even the reason for protest as long as it is lawful and legitimate. To that extent, I am in support of Nigerians who want to protest. And deploying security agents to arrest citizens who are protesting is simply wrong and condemnable. We will continue to stand up for anyone whose right is violated on account of peaceful protest.
Our determination is unflinching. The same way government is determined to interfere with the right of the citizens to protest, the same way we are determined to defend that right. We are not going to negotiate that right with government. The arrests are baseless. The attempt to trivialise treason and make a mockery of our criminal justice system is a reminder that those in power lack democratic credentials. We in the civil society must be unrelenting in our determination to ensure that we uphold the principles of equity. We will continue to provide support for anyone wrongly arrested on account of joining a peaceful protest.
There is an atmosphere of fear in the country because people are scared about coming to protest on October 1…
I don’t think anyone should be afraid. All these charges they are filing are just an attempt to distract people. Government just wants to distract Nigerians from the real issues. Nobody should be scared of exercising his or her constitutional right. This is our country; it doesn’t belong to Tinubu or All Progressives Congress, APC. All Nigerians have equal rights in the country. People have to conquer their fears and insist on their rights. Ultimately, the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. I am encouraging Nigerians to overcome fears. The attempt to terrorise people must be defeated. Nobody should be frightened on account of the abuse of criminal justice system by the Tinubu regime
Do you foresee Nigerians coming out en mass this time?
I don’t agree that Nigerians do not have the capacity to sustain protest. There were protests before and after #EndSARS. I think the significant thing is that Nigerians have refused to be a conquered people whether the Tinubu regime likes it or not. People must continue to protest because if they don’t, what other options do they have? The situation in the country is bad, this administration has destroyed the economy, inflation has affected the people and nothing is happening. The President is buying new aircraft while the people are suffering. Why wouldn’t there be protest? People shouldn’t be intimated because of the viciousness of an inept administration. (Sunday Vanguard: Text, Excluding Headline)