A Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo, has advised the federal and state governments to realise that peaceful rallies and protest are allowed and necessary under democratic rule.
Ambassador Ajadi who was reacting to reports of Police dispersing the protesters at Lekki Lagos on Sunday as part of marking the fourth year anniversary of #endsars said the federal government should caution the Nigerian Police that peaceful rally or protest is an essential feature of democratic rule.
Recall that there were reports that officers of the Lagos State Police Command fired teargas to disperse protesters rallying to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest last Sunday.
Videos seen on Sunday morning showed protesters fleeing as the Police fired shots.
The protesters converged around 8:30 am at the Lekki toll gate with several banners and placards, calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.
Though the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that there was no confrontation, but the Police had to disperse the protesters to prevent traffic disruption at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“They were told to disperse, but they were adamant; we had to use minimal force to disperse them,” Hundeyin said.
However, Ambassador Ajqdi in a statement on Tuesday cautioned the Police to know that in democracy, peaceful protest is citizens’ right and they should not be denied such fundamental rights of peaceful protest.
He emphasised that what the Police needs to do is to guide and guard the protesters to avoid the peaceful intention and protests from being hijacked by the hoodlums.
According to him: “I read reports of the forceful dispersing of youths peacefully protesting and calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.
“While I appreciate the role of the Police to maintaining law and order, let me also wish to let the Police and the government realise that the citizens deserve respect and the enjoyment of their fundamental rights.
“What we need to emphasize is that all protests must be peaceful. The panic reactions to the last nationwide protest by our law enforcement agencies are unnecessary. We all own this country and nobody will pray for.its downfall.
“It is through protests that governments at all levels can get feedbacks to their actions and policies. So instead of scaring our youths from protesting, we should encourage them to protests and tell the governments the true positions about their policies and programmes.
“To our teeming youths, I implore you to always be peaceful and articulate your plans well before embarking on protests, let the protests be constructive not destructive ones”.
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