3 months ago
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.Says Nigeria Police holds responsibility to ensure that any activity does not pose threat to national security
.Threatening protesters undermines Tinubu’s Legacy – Amnesty Int’l
The Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, explained reasons it requested the names and other details of organisers for the proposed nationwide protests, tagged #EndBadGovernance protest.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, said having such details is standard procedure to ensure the safety of all participants and prevent any unlawful activities.
Daily Times recalls that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had, on Friday, directed the protest organisers to submit their details, proposed routes and assembly points to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
However, many Nigerians including activist Deji Adeyanju rejected such conditions.
The statement explaining reasons for the demand of the details of the protests’ organisers was titled: “Re: Police IG Accused of Trying to Rewrite Constitution: NPF Sets the Record Straight; Educates Adeyanju, Other Accusers on Police’s Constitutional Responsibility in Public Order”:
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It reads: “The Nigeria Police Force hereby addresses the recent accusations made by one activist, Deji Adeyanju, and others via various fora, alleging that the IGP is attempting to rewrite the Constitution by requesting the details of the organizers and leaders of the planned nationwide protests.
“It is vital to clarify that the IGP has never denied the constitutional right of every citizen to freedom of association and expression, but has rather, at every point, emphasised that the right is that to peaceful assembly and expression.
“Also, the Nigeria Police holds the responsibility to ensure that any activity, including protests, does not pose a threat to national security.
“In this wise, requesting the details of protest organisers and their leaders and the schedules of their protests which include location, period, routes etc, is a standard procedure to facilitate effective communication, ensure the safety of all participants, and prevent any unlawful activities.
“It is also vital for Deji Adeyanju to note that in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons as enshrined in Section 45 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this request by the IGP is not out of place.
“It is essential to know who is planning the assembly (protests) in each state as allowing faceless groups to operate unchecked could jeopardise the peace and stability of the country, and leave us with pains, sorrows and tears as experienced in the 2020 violent EndSARS Protests.
“If organised labour and other recognised bodies were involved, it would have provided a more structured and safer environment for such public protests.
Meanwhile, the Amnesty International has warned against threatening protesters, saying doing so would undermine the legacy of President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that since the ‘End bad governance in Nigeria’ started gaining traction on social media, many top government officials have advised against the demonstrations, arguing that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums.
However, the Chairman of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, commended security agencies for democratically conducting themselves.
“For anybody to come and say what you are doing is illegal or we will deal with you when you do that, you are actually undermining the President who so much believes in the democratic tenets,” he said on Channels Television’s Dateline Abuja which aired at the weekend.
“Let me thank the security agencies for realising that the initial threats they were making to brutally deal with protesters, especially peaceful protesters were actually undermining the integrity of the Tinubu administration.
“They were making democratic reversal as the President himself is someone who believes in democracy and democracy gives opportunity for people to express themselves lawfully, peaceful,” he said.
The protest is scheduled to be held from August 1 and end on August 10 across the 36 states of the federation and the nation’s capital.
Already, security agencies have held a meeting with President Tinubu rallying around traditional rulers, governors, and religious and opinion leaders.
The protesters are hell-bent on storming the states to register their grievances over the high cost of living, poverty index, and worsening inflation figures among other economic indices.
Security agencies are worried that the protest could be marred by violence as characterised in the #EndSARS protest of October 2020 that called for police reforms among other demands.
Amid these concerns, the Amnesty International boss believes that violence is never a solution.
He called on the government and security agencies to provide security cover to the protest to avoid a situation whereby hoodlums could take advantage of the situation.
“Both myself as an individual and the organisations that I represent do not believe in any violence because violence is not a solution. However, we insist and believe that the government has the duty to protect the protest itself because it is part of the democratic tenet.
“The President knows very well as a democrat, as somebody who participated in previous protests, he knows the value and importance.
“What I think is happening now is the international community and Nigerians are watching and seeing these utterances by hired people to bring religious connotation to it,” he said.
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