The Presidency has affirmed that Nigerians possess the constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests, which cannot be denied to them. This statement was made amidst a series of pro-government protests organized by chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in various state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Federal government, in an attempt to pacify young Nigerians and avert the upcoming 10-day nationwide protest, slated to begin on August 1st, has initiated a series of conciliatory measures.
In addition, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has called for a meeting with the legal adviser to the protest organizers, Mr. Ebun Olu-Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja today to discuss the upcoming protest.
These statements were made in response to concerns raised across the country regarding the possibility of the protest being hijacked by violent individuals.
Furthermore, 36 civil society organizations in Nigeria have reiterated the importance of citizens’ rights to peaceful protest as a fundamental aspect of democratic governance. The Minister of the FCT does not have the authority to prevent the organizers of the protest from using Eagle Square in Abuja, as it is a public facility.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, issued a warning over the weekend, threatening to prohibit the use of the facility unless the organizers officially applied for permission.
Additionally, Senate President Godswill Akpabio attributed the planned nationwide protest to defeated politicians seeking to gain power through illegitimate means. The South-West Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Nigerians to disregard the protest, assuring them that the current challenges will soon be replaced by improved living conditions for all.
