By Olusegun Olanrewaju, with agency reports
Anxiety has gripped the nation over the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest against economic hardship which has gained traction on social media.
The protest has been scheduled to hold across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja between August 1 and 10, but the organisers of the protest have been faceless.
In the last months, prices of food and basic commodities have escalated astronomically as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises ignited by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
Last Thursday, President Bola Tinubu told members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria that his administration was not afraid of protest, but concerned about the ordinary people and the damages that would be done by the protest.
He also appealed to displeased youths to shelve the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest and as part of moves to placate aggrieved citizens, he sent a bill to raise the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 to the National Assembly and both chambers of the legislature speedily passed the bill which is expected to be signed into law this week.
Similarly, the military authorities had last week warned that unscrupulous elements plan to hijack the protest and use it to stage anarchy like what was recently witnessed in East African country Kenya.
The police had also warned against bloody demonstrations come next month just as All Progressives Congress (APC) governors surmised that the protest could be hijacked and turn violent like the EndSARS nationwide protest against police brutality back in October 2020.
However, yesterday, the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called on Christians not to join the planned nationwide protest scheduled.
This was contained in a message to Christians in the state signed by Bishop Bulus Yohanna, chairman of CAN, in the state.
The message was also read in the churches across the state yesterday.
CAN said the protest might be hijacked by hoodlums and selfish groups to cause havoc in the country and maim innocent citizens.
“Genuine protest can easily be seized by hoodlums and selfish groups to cause enormous havoc on innocent citizens. Let us shun protest, violence has never yielded positive results,” he said.
Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, described peace as an ongoing and dynamic process that demands perpetual attention and constant effort to attain and maintain.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to, apart from the palliatives, work on price control for goods and services, address the rising cost of living, and reduce the price of fuel.
“Let us take advantage of the farming season especially now that the Farmer Governor is proactive and has prioritised the agricultural sector,” he said.
The CAN chairman enjoined church leaders, Local Government Coordinators, and parents to admonish their members and children to shun any planned protest in the interest of peace.
He charged them to remember the book of Romans 13:1-3 which talks about Christians not rebelling against constituted authorities.
“As you are aware, there are plans to stage a nationwide protest across the country. As Children of God and responsible people known for peace, I urge us all to shun the protest, speak to our children/wards and members of our congregation”, he said.
He said that other well-meaning Nigerians, including the youths, had declared that they would not join the nationwide protest.
“I want us to note that as a body, the CAN, Niger state will not be part of the exercise but rather prefer to have peaceful dialogue and continue to pray for our nation,” he said.
The clergy said there was a need to shun the protest as it could be used to harm the people.
“Peaceful protest with clear demands is good but such could be hijacked by miscreants and be perceived by security as a threat which can lead to arrests/shootings.
“There is no time that violence has led to positive results, rather it has caused destructions, loss of lives, and setbacks,” Yohanna said.
He said that major stakeholders in Niger state had agreed not to join the protest.
The Bishop, however, urged governments at all levels to shun corruption and ethnic and religious bigotry.
He said, “Let there be greater accountability, fairness in empowerment, job opportunities, employment, and equitable sharing of the commonwealth and justice.”
*Apply properly to use FCT facilities, not social media applications– Wike
The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has told the organisers of the planned protest to pass through the appropriate channels to apply for the use of facilities in the nation’s capital instead of using social media to send messages to his office.
He said he was yet to receive any letter requesting the usage of the Eagle Square for a planned protest billed to start from August 1.
The Minister stated this over the weekend during a town hall meeting with critical stakeholders in the FCT ahead of the demonstrations which is tagged #EndBadGovernance protest.
He said, “The protesters should not just make use of social media to send a message to his office. He advised them to rather pass through the appropriate channels.
He had last week urged residents of FCT to shun the protest, saying, “For those who want to protest on the 1st, FCT is not available for such protests.”
*We must have identities of organisers, Police insist
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force yesterday defended its request for the names and other details of intending participants of the forthcoming August nationwide protest.
Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said having such details is standard procedure to ensure the safety of all participants and prevent any unlawful activities.
Last week, the police demanded the details of the protesters to protect them in their peaceful demonstration, the request was faced with backlashes as many Nigerians including activist Deji Adeyanju rejected such a condition.
However, in a statement yesterday, Adejobi said, “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, emphasized 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 organizers 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 essential to know who is planning the assembly (protests) in each state as allowing faceless groups to operate unchecked could jeopardize the peace and stability of the country, and leave us with pains, sorrows, and tears as experienced in the 2020 violent EndSARS Protests.”
*Adegboruwa tasks NCC on alleged disconnection of subscribers by telcos
A human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to probe telecommunication operators’ alleged disconnection of subscribers.
In a statement yesterday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria warned that telcos should not attempt to sabotage the forthcoming protest against economic hardship in Nigeria by restricting internet access among displeased citizens.
Adegboruwa said, “For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege a lack of NIN registration or linking while some didn’t give any reason at all.
“This action is coming on the heels of the proposed struggle of the people against hunger, poverty, suffering, and the suffocating economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
“From all indications, it would seem that the underlying target of the telecom companies is to limit the reach of their customers to restrict access and thus frustrate the protests.”
The senior lawyer said the contract between telecom companies and their subscribers remains sacrosanct and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.
“Sufficient information and opportunity should be given for subscribers to remedy any alleged breach or error. So many telephone users deploy their numbers for their businesses and other lawful engagements, not to talk to those who may have medical and health-related emergencies. The NCC is urged to look into this and come to the rescue of the subscribers.”
*Amnesty warns against threatening protesters
Similarly, the Chairman of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has warned against threatening protesters, saying it doesn’t augur well for democracy.
The group said doing so would undermine the legacy of President Bola Tinubu.
Rafsanjani, in a Channels TV ‘Dateline Abuja’ over the weekend, however, commended security agencies for democratically conducting themselves.
He said, “For anybody to come and say what you are doing is illegal or we will deal with you when you do that, you are undermining the President who so much believes in the democratic tenets.
“Let me thank the security agencies for realising that the initial threats they were making to brutally deal with protesters, especially peaceful protesters were 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.”
