From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Conveners of #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria, numbering over 15 associations, have urged President Bola Tinubu, to direct security agents to stop use of high handedness and live ammunition on innocent protesting Nigerians.
The conveners include; Accountability Lab Nigeria, African Renaissance Movement (ARM), BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Electoral Reforms (CODER), #FixPolitics, Global Rights, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Sensor Empowerment Foundation, TechHer, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Yiaga Africa
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the group lamnted that the lives of ordinary Nigerians have been turned upside down since President Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy without any structured plan to mitigate the negative impacts on the people.
They claimed that the country is in serious crisis with spiralling insecurity and hardship which has resulted in farmers avoiding their farms for fear of attacks and the unprecedented number of out of school children due to inability of parents to afford school fees of their children.
The conveners, in a speech read by the National Secretary of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, further threatened to continue with the peaceful protest if President Tinubu failed to address the sufferings and frustrations of Nigerians.
“The demands of Nigerians who have gathered peacefully since August 1, 2024, must be heard. We seek relief from the economic hardships inflicted upon us by the irrational policies of the President Tinubu led government. The use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters is intolerable and must end immediately.
“Our protests are not a stage for criminal activities. To those who see our peaceful protest as a means to put their criminal activities into practise, you are not a part of our cause. We call on President Tinubu to immediately halt the use of brute force by security agencies against peaceful protesters. There is no place for the use of live ammunition on peaceful protesters.
“We are aware of the government’s tactics of bribing key stakeholders to quash protests, but this time, it will not succeed. If our demands are not met, we will continue to peacefully express our sufferings and frustrations until they are addressed,” they warned.
Reacting further, the conveners said that; “It is particularly disappointing to see this government, led by President Tinubu – who once stood as an opposition leader and supported protests – now using state forces to suppress the rights of citizens.”
“Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, along with Articles 19 and 20 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantee our rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Yet, when Nigerians exercise these rights under this government led by President Tinubu, they face brutality and even death.
“We have witnessed tragic events, such as the killing of Abbas Kabiru by the Nigerian Police in Kaduna and the death of 16-year-old Ismail Mohammed at the hands of the Nigerian Army. These are only a few examples of the violence that peaceful protesters have endured, with Amnesty International stating over 22 peaceful protesters brutally killed by the security agencies.
“According to the constitution, no one should be held without being charged to court for more than 48 hours. Yet, individuals like Khalid Aminu remain in detention without charges, languishing in SSS custody in Kaduna.
“This is unacceptable! Nigeria may be a lawless place, but our fundamental human rights will not be taken away from us. We demand that all those detained in connection to the ongoing protest be released with immediate effect else President Tinubu should be ready to arrest us all,” they charged.