CSOs, Lawyers Differ On Planned Protest Against Hardship

CSOs, lawyers differ on planned protest against hardship

Civil Rights Organisations and lawyers have expressed divergent opinions to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024 across the country.

A statement had widely circulated on social media recently, indicating the readiness of some youths to stage a nationwide protest across the country in response to prevailing economic hardship.

The protest to be organised by various youth groups was reportedly aimed to openly express the youths’ frustration over the escalating costs of living under the current administration.

Recall that the North Central arm of the All Progressives Congress Forum had warned against the proposed protest, noting that such a decision would be counterproductive and harmful to the progress of the country.

The forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, who addressed newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital recently, said those calling for the protest ought to observe the situation in the country and have a sound judgment before taking any decision.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, some CSOs and lawyers expressed contrasting viewpoints to the planned protest even as they both agreed it was a constitutional right of the citizens.

In his submission, the national President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, said though the protest is legitimate, the protesters have not come up with specific demands and lack leadership.

He said: “Since there is freedom of association and peaceful assembly, people have the right to protest. What we are just skeptical about is that the supposed protesters are not coming up with itemised demands. In the absence of that, it will be difficult for anyone to say the government should respond in a particular way.

“Also, there is no clear cut front for the movement that wants to organise the protest. No matter how peaceful a protest is, if there is no leadership, it will be difficult to identify who to discuss with. Every protest should be well organised with itemised and articulated demands.”

Similarly, the Chairman of Osun Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, said the conduct and manners of the people that would participate in the protest was worrisome.

The activist said, “Protest, as long as it is peaceful, is a constitutional right. However, my worries are on the conduct and manners of those who will participate in this protest. I will not support a protest without leadership and directions. The organisers of the protest should be cautious of those they are mobilising for the protest. I support a peaceful protest against the current hardship, but we need to be careful while expressing our dissatisfaction.”

However, a Public Interest lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said, “The protest is long overdue. Nigerians are experiencing excruciating economic hardship. At the same time, the government is depleting scarce public resources to fund the extravagant lifestyle of the president and other people in government.

“The prices of basic commodities have gone up exponentially. We have not seen any major efforts towards institutional reforms. Corruption is still rife. Nepotism is also now fully entrenched. So there are 1001 reasons Nigerians should protest. But to say that there has to be clearly defined demands before people can protest is just misguided.”

Corroborating this, another lawyer, Festus Ogun, said, “Protest is a constitutional right that is guaranteed under Section 39, 40 and 41 of the constitution. You cannot beat a child and expect that the child will not cry. The people of Nigeria have been cheated and oppressed for too long. So the protest is only a consequence of bad governance and leadership that we experience on a daily basis. It is simply consequential. For every action, there must be consequences.”

In a similar vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, said it was constitutional for Nigerians to protest, but warned that the mass action must not be hijacked by hoodlums.

He said, “As it is known, Nigerians have a constitutional right to express their feelings peacefully and in an orderly manner. They have the right to express their displeasure over policies that they considered are not in their interest, including the socio-economic situation and security in the country.”