We Congratulate Protesters For Drawing The Attention Of Politicians Eating In Abuja, Says Femi Falana
According to Channels Television, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the demands of the peaceful protesters who have taken to the streets in recent days. In a statement on Sunday, Falana criticized the presidential speech delivered earlier that day, stating it failed to address the key demand of reversing the policy of fuel subsidy withdrawal.
“If the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action,” Falana said.
Falana also praised the protesters for drawing attention to the plight of millions of Nigerians suffering from hunger and poverty. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested protesters, emphasizing that they had committed no criminal offense. He condemned the repression of peaceful protesters and expressed sympathy for those who lost loved ones during the demonstrations.
“We commiserate with the families of the patriots’ peaceful protesters that were killed and call on the Federal and State Governments to set up Commissions of Inquiry, which should include representatives of credible human rights organisations and the NBA to investigate the killings with a view to bringing to justice the reckless murderers in police uniform and ensuring that. The family members of the deceased should be adequately compensated by the federal government. The victims of the barbarous police killings should be identified and celebrated as heroes and heroines of the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian people. Participation in peaceful protests should never be criminalised in Nigeria,” he added.
Falana criticized the federal government’s response to the protests, including accusations against the youths of being manipulated by frustrated politicians. He cited provocative statements by officials, such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s remark that “while you protest, we shall be eating” and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s description of protesters as “idiots.”
In an effort to prevent the protests, the government reportedly met with political, religious, and traditional leaders and secured court orders to confine protests to designated areas. Despite these measures, the protests were conducted peacefully in many states, with incidents of violence primarily instigated by thugs and some overzealous police officers.
Falana highlighted the illegal and unconstitutional nature of threats made by Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa to involve the military in quelling the protests. He stressed that the responsibility to manage protests lies with the police and called for a professional and restrained approach.
“We congratulate the protesters for drawing the attention of the few politicians who are eating in Abuja to the plight of millions of Nigerians who are hungry. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters that were arrested and detained because they have not committed any criminal offense,” Falana reiterated.
He urged President Tinubu to address the protesters’ demands, particularly the reversal of the fuel subsidy withdrawal policy. Falana argued that addressing the root causes of the unrest, such as corruption and economic inequality, would help mitigate the protests and foster a more stable and just society…..See_More
