CHSR FROWNS AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CRIMINALIZATION OF PROTESTS INSISTS PROTESTS IS NIGERIAN RIGHTS NOT A PRIVILEGE !
By Oluwatoyin Mathnuel
INSIGHT GLOBAL NEWS
" Protest is a lawful gathering, right of any citizen of a country according to the treaty signed not only in Nigeria but In African Chartered of Human and Peoples' Rights. Protest is not a privilege but a fundamental Human Rights of public opinion which is quite different to a mob action. Protests under section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right of every person to freely assemble and associate with other person's in exercise of freedom of expression.
Down the memory lane , the Democracy Nigerians are enjoying today was through consistence protests where Comrades laid down their lives, activists maimed, tear gased, brutalised. So why would the National Assembly want to criminalised protests which is a tool to checkmate bad governance as well? " Comrade Omotehinse quarried after his speech at a recent Press Conference titled " " WE REJECT CRIMINALIZATION OF PROTESTS BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY" held on the 9th of May, 2023.
Centre For Human And Socio-Economic Rights ( CHRS) could not but see the bill against protesters sponsored by Emeka Chinedu Martins of the House of Representatives as deliberate attempt to cow Nigerians into submission under the guise of protecting public property while the right to peaceful protests which is guarantee by Nigeria constitution is no doubt under grievous attacks by this vexatious bill of five years jail term must therefore be vehemently rejected by Nigerians.
CHRS therefore seeks the hallowed chamber prioritization on issues of insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poor electricity, poor health facilities, unmotorable roads as well wage war against poverty which are Nigerians critical challenges and stop further deliberation on the obnoxious bill to criminalize protests which as well undermine the rights of Nigerian.
Moreso, The National Assembly should demand greater sense of responsibility and due diligence from the security operatives most especially The Police which must be held to account for the protection of lives and public properties during protests.
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