Protest; Coalition of 55 civil society express displeasure over Tinubu’s inaction

A coalition of 55 civil society organizations in Nigeria has issued a joint statement condemning the violence and looting associated with the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

The CSOs attributed the situation to the attitude of political leaders at all levels of government. They stated that restricting citizens’ right to protest is undemocratic and emphasized that peaceful protest is a legitimate form of expression protected by international human rights instruments and Nigeria’s Constitution.

The statement underscores the importance of peaceful protest in enabling citizens to voice concerns, express displeasure with government policies, and participate in the democratic process.

The CSOs reminded the government that Nigeria’s Constitution establishes the country as a democratic state based on principles of democracy and social justice.

The statement issued on Sunday reads, “When Nigerians—frustrated with the high cost of living, insecurity, and a wasteful government that has refused to listen to their complaints—announced via various media that they would embark on a 10-day nationwide protest in the hope that the government would pay attention, they expected a rapid response to their demands in ways that addressed their concerns.

“Over the last few weeks, Nigerians have planned, mobilized, and curated different types of demands and given the government adequate notice. Instead of responding to the substantive demands of the protesters, the government’s response has been to suppress and delegitimize the protests using propaganda, politics, threats, intimidation, arrests, bribery, and blackmail.

“We are holding the government accountable for ignoring the protesters’ grievances and the negative outcomes of these protests. The violence and looting occurring in the #EndBadGovernance protests speak volumes about the failure of the government to validate and address the concerns of its citizens.

“The blame solely lies with the federal, state, and local governments, which have failed to provide security and welfare to the people. The continued lack of response to the demands of protesters carries a huge risk of further deterioration.”

The CSOs expressed disappointment with the government’s response to the protests, stating that while the President acknowledged Nigerians’ grievances and outlined some plans, the statement lacked substance and conviction.

They noted that the President failed to address key demands, including reducing the high cost of governance, addressing insecurity, and alleviating the cost of living. Additionally, the CSOs criticized other government officials’ responses, including the Vice President’s labeling of protest organizers as “bandits and idiots” and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s dismissal of the protests as “useless.”

The Senate President’s comment that the protests can continue as long as he and others “continue eating” was also seen as dismissive, with “eating” interpreted as a reference to both the protests’ focus on hunger and the perceived benefiting from government resources.

The statement further reads, “Mocking the people to proceed with the protests while they continue to “eat” reeks of insensitivity and is highly reprehensible, demonstrating a callous disregard for the predicament of Nigerians.

“The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives held a town hall meeting with youth on the eve of the first day and ended with releasing a video appealing for the protests to be called off as the government had listened.

“The Minister of State for Police Affairs joined anti-protest protesters, while several ministers have held press briefings with posters calling for pro-government protests as their backdrop, thereby validating the rise of fake civil society in Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Police fired tear gas and used live ammunition against unarmed protesters, murdering citizens. This is criminal, unlawful, and a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.

“The Nigeria Police have beaten and physically assaulted peaceful protesters, including journalists and a person with a disability.

“The government is threatening to deploy soldiers to the streets. The implications of these threats are obvious, as we recall the outcome of the last time soldiers were deployed to respond to citizens’ protests during the #EndSARS.”

The CSOs warned the government that the continued lack of response to the demands of protesters carries a huge risk of further deterioration, noting that the protesters were clear that they would remain on the streets for 10 days.

“Rather than trying to break up the protest, we urge the government to focus on three core things immediately: Security: provide adequate security for the protesters, prevent hired thugs and hoodlums from attacking protesters or disrupting the protest as we have seen in the first two days, and order the police to desist from using tear gas and live ammunition in response to the protest.

“Act: take steps to respond to the cries of the citizens on behalf of whom you hold power in trust. Take short-term actions to respond to the demands, outlining and communicating medium-term and long-term plans to reduce the economic hardship faced by citizens.

“Respect Human Rights: The government should also ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists, activists, and protesters unjustly detained by security officials during the ongoing protest.”

They further reminded political leaders not to forget that “sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government, through this Constitution, derives all its powers and authority,” citing Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).