Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has issued a stern warning to Nigerian youths protesting against hunger, hardship, and socio-economic policies to avoid actions that could jeopardize the objectives of their demonstrations. Speaking to newsmen on Monday, Falana emphasized the importance of maintaining the peaceful nature of the protests and distancing themselves from undemocratic forces that have exploited the protests to incite violence or campaign for a military coup.
Falana condemned the act of protesters brandishing the Russian flag, calling it an abuse of constitutional rights. His remarks come in response to violent protests in Northern Nigeria, where demonstrators were seen waving Russian flags and chanting “Tinubu must go.”
“The right to protest is required to be exercised peacefully within the ambit of the law,” Falana stated. He referenced Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which mandates the Nigeria Police Force to provide security for public meetings, rallies, and protests. Falana acknowledged instances where the police have provided adequate security and displayed professionalism during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Falana highlighted his support for the constitutional right to protest but stressed the need for protesters to dissociate from those advocating for unconstitutional actions. He emphasized that the call for a military coup or the display of the Russian flag during protests constitutes a gross abuse of the right to protest against the Nigerian government.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for unconstitutional change of government,” he asserted. Falana warned that those involved in illegal campaigns for military rule could be charged with treasonable felony under Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.
He concluded by urging the Bola Tinubu administration to review policies contributing to poverty and hardship, making any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive to the Nigerian populace.
The statement read;
“Accordingly, the right to protest is required to be exercised peacefully within the ambit of the law. Hence, section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 has imposed a duty on the Nigeria Police Force to provide adequate security for citizens who may wish to participate in public meetings, rallies and protests. In many parts of the country, the Police provided adequate security for the ##endbadgovernance protesters and in some cases professionalism was glaringly on display.
“Having won the legal battle for the Nigerian people to exercise their constitutional right to protest against unpopular policies of the Government, I have supported the constitutional right from all walks of life to exercise the right to protest.
“While we have supported the right of the #endbadgovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from the undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for another military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country that is noted for supporting unconstitutional change of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for unconstitutional change of government.
“Therefore, those who are involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule are advised to stop it forthwith. Otherwise, they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.
“In order to make any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive to the people of Nigeria, the Bola Tinubu administration ought to review the neoliberal policies that are promoting poverty and hardship in the land.”
