From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the unconditional release of all individuals who were detained for participating in peaceful protests.
This was contained in a letter signed by the Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, on behalf of the CSO representatives and made available to the media in Kaduna today.
The letter stated that reports available to them indicate that several individuals have been detained nationwide, with some facing legal action for exercising their constitutional right to protest.
The Executive director stressed that: “The right to peaceful protest and assembly is a fundamental democratic principle enshrined in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended.)
He opined that citizens should not be criminalized for exercising their democratic rights, and law enforcement agencies should respect human rights norms as they enforce the use of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act.
The protest, according to him, is “the response to hardships faced by Nigerians; hence, they took to the streets to express their frustration and demand better governance.
“Although we do not condone the actions of criminals who have been duly tried and found guilty of looting citizens’ and government properties and sabotaging the protest, we are deeply troubled by the government’s response to these peaceful demonstrations.
“The peaceful protests were a call to action for your administration to address the suffering of the people and to take decisive steps to improve governance and economic conditions.
“Moreover, the excessive use of force by security agencies, resulting in the tragic deaths of several protesters, is alarming and unacceptable.
“We remind you of your past involvement in protests under previous administrations, which underscores the importance of respecting citizens’ rights to express their grievances.”
He added that what is more concerning is the government’s characterization of the protests as an attempt at “regime change” or a “coup,” which has further escalated tensions.
“While we acknowledge the recent steps taken by your administration, such as the signing of the amended National Minimum Wage Act and the distribution of food aid, we believe these measures, though well-intentioned, were not sufficient to address the root causes of the unrest.
“In light of this, we strongly urge you to: Initiate the process to unconditionally release all individuals detained for participating in peaceful protests”, he stated.
The CSOs were represented by the Country Director for ActionAid Nigeria —Andrew Mamedu, the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director ofYAIGA Africa —Samson Itodo, the Founding Executive Director
Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) Abiola Akioyede and the Director of Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Rev. FATHER John Patrick Ngoyi.
Others are, the Executive Director of Policy Alert —Tijani Bolton, the Executive Director, of Africa Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre-LSD) Monday Osasah, the Lead Director of Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Eze Onyekpere, and the Executive Director, of Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre(SERDC) Tijani Abdulkareem.
The CSOs also urged President Tinubu to establish a credible and non-partisan framework for civic engagement and policy dialogue at the Presidency to address the root causes of the protests by implementing short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to alleviate the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
This move, according to them, will not only reduce the cost of fuel but also stabilize the prices of other essential goods.
The CSOs also urged the President to take strict measures that will ensure utmost transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector, particularly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“We urge that NNPCL’s dealings be open to public monitoring, with regular publication of updated and detailed information on financial transactions and contracts.
“This is especially vital following the subsidy removal, which has impacted all Nigerians. Halting irresponsible borrowing practices and providing transparency and accountability for the use of borrowed funds.
“Implementing comprehensive social protection policies and programs to address the high rate of poverty in the country. Ensuring equitable and reliable power supply across all regions, eliminating the current discriminatory power distribution system.
“Your Excellency, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The actions your administration takes in the coming days will significantly influence the direction our country will take.
“We believe that with decisive and compassionate leadership, you can restore public confidence and steer Nigeria toward a path of prosperity and justice for all its citizens”, the CSOs.
