A Nigerian lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has warned protesters to desist from activities that would destroy the objective of the ongoing nationwide protests.
He posited while taking questions from members of the press on Monday, 05 August. Falana warned Nigerian youths protesting economic challenges affecting the country to be wary of thugs and distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for another military coup in the country.
The lawyer said that the act of brandishing the Russian flag while protesting in Nigeria is an abuse of constitutional rights.
Falana was reacting on the background of violent protests in the Northern parts of the country, where protesters were seen brandishing the Russian flag while chanting “Tinubu must go”.
In his words: “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 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 hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an 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.
