Calls on the Federal Government to release those still detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests of August 1st to 10th is gaining increasing momentum.
Now, astute businessman and politician, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, is joining moral force with those opposed to their continued detention.
These demands are on the heels of the calls by Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Transparency International (TI), Arewa Youths as well as civil society organisations amongst others, on the government to ensure their immediate release.
The emeritus Archbishop based his call on the point that unarmed protesters, many of whom are now being held, are not the cause of Nigeria’s problems.
“It is not unarmed protesters who are the cause of our problems. Our president told us he is ready to dialogue with all those who are unhappy, but he needs to take the initiative now.
“Is this how to ask for dialogue? There is need to completely change our attitude. The people (protesters) were just ordinary young people who are hungry.
‘’The only way to show that you feel our pain is to do things that will relieve the suffering and pain of the people. That is what the government is there for.”
Prominent Nigerian lawyer, and chairman of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, Mr Femi Falana is of the conviction that Instead of subjecting organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests to unwarranted clampdown, the Federal Government should either release or arraign them before appropriate courts without any further delay.
‘’Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and their family members to make arrangements for their defence,” Falana stated in a statement, titled, ‘’Halt The Clampdown On Protesters.”
Reacting in the same vein, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), said some people were not involved in the protests, including patients in hospitals were also targeted.
He added a dimension to the matter by saying detaining the protesters could be a means of siphoning public funds.
“It is very sad that the government, which makes laws for citizens to comply with, is the one breaking the law. The government has not complied with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Additionally, we have noted that some people who were not even part of the #EndBadGovernance protests were arrested.
“To worsen matters, some people who were in the hospital were arrested in the name of pursuing protesters. In Katsina, security agencies allegedly went to the hospital, threw tear-gas canisters and killed some patients.
The Arewa Youth Assembly also yesterday called for the release of the protesters, saying the fact that government had not been able to arraign them was an indication it had no charges against the protesters.
Coordinator of the group, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, noted that indefinite detention of the protesters is brewing a bigger protest.
“We are advocating release of all the protesters languishing in various prisons. They were simply disenchanted with government policies and took to the streets to protest peacefully, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Even if they became culpable in unlawful acts, it should not take more than 48 hours before they are arraigned in court. Doing otherwise is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights and is in itself an unlawful act by the government.
On his part, Ambassador Ajadi stressed the point that the president himself had before now benefited from people protests and should not now, work against it.
He wondered therefore, how someone who rose to societal relevance through freely expressing himself now turn round to hinder others from doing the same.
Ajadi lamented that since the coming into office of the current government that things had moved from bad to worse, and that the least that Nigerian populace could do was organise themselves and express dissatisfaction.
“For me, that is simply what the #EndBadGovernance protests simply did.
“Who is in this country and does not know that things are challenging. It is not that the country itself is broke, it is simply a question of mismanagement of resources.
“If the government could, despite all that is going on, think and budget on a new presidential jet as we are made to understand, why can’t it immediately rise to the occasion of mitigating the suffering of those it is constitutionally responsible for? That is part of the reason for the #EndBadGovernance protests
“I also feel the impact of the bad policies of the government, being an entrepreneur. I have workers and I know and feel with at they are feeling.
“I also associates in politics, at different levels. And you cannot pretend when you see obviously that the people around you are not finding things easy in the economy.
“It is for the above reason that I wholeheartedly reiterate my call on the president, not only to ensure an expedited release of those he is still holding, but come up with a programme and policy of ameliorating hunger and hardship in the country.
“This is the lease we could ask and hope for in a county so blessed”, Ajadi stated.
