EDITORIAL: The right to protest: Matters arising

A Daily Times report of Friday September 11, states that the recent increase in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has been met with stiff opposition by the Nigerian public.

This has resulted in mass protests in the different parts of the country. The unions braced up for a national strike which they called the ‘mother of all strikes!

There has been public condemnation of the action of the government as tyrannical and callous, especially because of the economic downturn and hardship being experienced by the people arising from the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Unfortunately, the protesters have been harassed and arrested by the police, thus circumscribing the right of citizens to protest against social injustice perpetrated by those who happen to be in power.

In the clampdown on the protesters, four journalists including an activist of the Socialist Party of Nigeria, Comrade Hassan Soweto, were arrested by the police.

All their cameras and work tools were carted away to the Lagos State Police Command.

The International Press Centre (IPC) spokesman condemned the harassment and brutalization of pressmen on duty and faulted the seizure and damage of their working tools.

He demanded an immediate and unconditional release of the journalists and activists, insisting that the police should return the seized gadgets and pay compensation for the damage incidental to their brutality.

Also reacting to the clampdown, the Yoruba World Congress (YWC) condemned the arrest of Opeyemi Owatimeyin, accusing the security operatives of unlawful arrest against the provisions of the extant law.

In a statement signed by the President of the YWC, Prof. Banji Okintoye, Owatimeyin is said to be in detention still.

According to him, efforts made by his lawyers to secure his release according to law have been rebuffed.

This violates Section 35 of the 1999 Federal Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees the right to personal liberty.

The journalists arrested include Mr. Ifeoluwa Adediran of Premium Times; Abiodun Ayeoba of Sahara Reporters; Awoniyi Oluwatosin of Objective Media, and Daniel Tanimu of Galaxy Television.

From all of this, it would seem that the government of the day is unwittingly drifting away from the principles of the rule of law and the tenets of democracy which safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens to the freedom of expression and unlawful detention.

If for any reason the government feels that the journalists and activists protesting against what is deemed as social injustice against the people have breached the laws of the land, it should prosecute them according to such laws instead of harassing, molesting and detaining them unlawfully.

We condemn the arrest and detention of the protesting journalists and activists. This is because such an act by government breaches or violates the fundamental rights of the citizens.

The act is inexcusable both from the provisions of the extant laws and public perception of the role of responsible government in allaying the fears of the oppressed and down-trodden members of civil society.

It is no news that the human rights record of the government is a document of atrocities. It is no news that the world poverty index portrays the country in very bad light.

It is no news that many governments of the world are striving to cushion the devastating effects of Covid-19 on their citizens.

It is no news that the pandemic lockdown has taken a severe toll on the citizens of the world, Nigerians inclusive.

For any government to allow the increase in the prices of essential products that would further worsen the living conditions of the citizens is unacceptable.

We therefore urge the government to review the fuel price and electricity tariff downward to douse tension and mitigate the effect of crushing inflation and the increased poverty unleashed by a prostrate economy and the pandemic lockdown on the people.

We call on the Federal Government to order the release all citizens still in detention for protesting against fuel and electricity price increase.

We also urge the government to order the return of all seized items to the journalists and activists and pay damages for destroyed or lost items while exercising their right.

We advise that the country cannot afford to degenerate into a police state where citizens are harassed and detained for no clearly defined offence or for frivolous and trumped charges.

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However, if government proves adamant, we urge the journalists and activists and all human rights lawyers to test this flagrant violation of citizens’ rights in the court of law.

They should not resort to self-help, violence, or any unlawful means of seeking redress.

Democracy is eternal vigilance, and we commend the efforts of the journalists as the watchdog of the people, the fourth estate of the realm and the vanguard of fundamental freedoms and rights of citizens.

The oppressed, exploited, downtrodden, and the impoverished masses of Nigeria need some respite.