Amidst growing discontent over the widespread insecurity and economic hardship in the country, especially the killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna, more Nigerians are backing the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari . Similarly, the romance of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government and the Human Rights Community appears to be over as protests have erupted over the worsening state of affairs in the country. There have been a faceoff between the organisers of the protests and security agents who did not want the rally for good government to hold allegedly for fear of being hijacked by hoodlums.
This is coming as Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minority leader of the Senate, who was linked to the sponsorship of the protest denied any link. Reports on the internet had linked Akpabio to the protest alleging that his gift of a Prado Jeep to Tuface during his wedding was to lure him in support of the rally. Besides Tuface’s wife is from Akwa Ibom State. But in a statement by Akpabio’s spokeperson Aniete Ekong said the former governor has nothing to do with the protest.midst growing discontent over the widespread insecurity and economic hardship in the country, especially the killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna, more Nigerians are backing the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari . Similarly, the romance of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government and the Human Rights Community appears to be over as protests have erupted over the worsening state of affairs in the country. There have been a faceoff between the organisers of the protests and security agents who did not want the rally for good government to hold allegedly for fear of being hijacked by hoodlums.
Last week, the South-South chapters of CAN and PFN at a joint meeting in Warri, Delta State called for President Buhari’s resignation if he cannot save the country from ceaseless killings and worsening economy.
“Number one issue is this Fulani herdsmen in our bushes. We are no longer going to fold our arms and watch while they kill our people. Some governors are saying they are not from the North. That claim is an insult to us.
“Today our children are now being deported from America and here we have people from outside our country killing people and raping our daughters, mother and wives. Our farmers no longer have farmlands to farm. I think it’s high time we started defending ourselves if the government cannot help us. The economy is dying. When Jonathan handed over to Buhari, the exchange rate was between N170 to N190 to a dollar. “Today, it is N550 to a dollar. Imagine how things had gone bad? While the church will pray, if he (Buhari) cannot save the country, let him resign for the country to move to where God wants it to be,” the bodies declared.
The Buhari government had come in on the crest of a lot of goodwill from majority of Nigerians. But this appears to have been frittered away within less than a year of coming to power with its style of governance resulting in the protests, threats and ultimatum.
On the call for Buhari’s resignation, Magnus Momah declared, “The silent voices of good are getting louder for Buhari to park and GO! No denying that majority of all Nigerians are tired and nothing can gladden their hearts and minds more than for them to see and hear that Buhari is gone as president and out forever.”
He added, “Please, Sir, resign now and GO. Just resign and GO NOW so Nigeria can have a chance to be normal, peaceful and prosperous again,” he said
Aike Kodio also declared, “I support CAN. What has he done since these killings started? Nothing. But the police commissioners are busy arresting citizen that defended themselves over herdsmen.” Power Mike also called for PMB to resign. “He should just go and sit down, his administration is the worst this country has ever recorded,” he said.
Latching upon the discontent in the land, popular musician, Tuface Idibia, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and part of the Human Rights Community planned the protests in Lagos which is enjoying support of Nigerians across the country despite plans by the police to stop it.
The Lagos State Police Command had said it will not allow the protest planned by ace musician, who had used his social media platforms to urge fans to join the movement against the Federal Government.
The state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, who said there was no official request from the protesters notifying security agencies of their plan, added that the Police Command was not ready for that kind of demonstration hence would not allow it to hold. “Information reaching us revealed that some hoodlums are planning to hijack the peaceful protest. And as such, we won’t allow it to hold in Lagos. We know that Tuface does not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand,” Owoseni said.
He had earlier in the week explained at a press conference that: “The Civil Society had said that they do not need police permission to carry out any peaceful protest, but they should also be aware that there might be those who share an opposing view. This set of persons may want to disrupt the peaceful demonstration and would want to attack demonstrators. “This is why we advise individuals or group of persons who may wish to embark on civil demonstration to inform the police so that adequate security arrangement would be provided,” he said.
But, Fayose who is also Chairman of the Governors’ Forum of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, lashed out at the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police for planning to stop a protest for good governance.
Also, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said nothing, including the police, could stop the peaceful rally while Fayose said that the police’s stand was a ploy to stop a legitimate civil act. In a statement by Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti, the governor said, “Leadership is about accountability. To be accountable, leaders must listen to public opinion either by civil and peaceful protest.
“The Court of Appeal’s judgment in the ANPP vs IGP allows for such protest or gathering without police permit or interference as in advanced democracies. The protest is said to be for and about good governance. So, who is afraid of the protest? Who do the police represent in this issue?
“Nigerians are hungry and angry, our currency is above N500 to a US dollar.”
“Nepotism, extra-judicial killings, disobedience to court order and human right abuse must stop. The conscience is an open wound and the guilty is afraid,” he said. On his part, Adegboruwa declared: “For the information of the police commissioner, Nigeria is a democratic country governed strictly in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. “Section 39 of the constitution grants freedom of expression, including the right to be heard and to disseminate information and ideas.
“Section 40 grants the right to associate and gather together. Section 38 grants the right to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly.
“The issue of police permit for citizens to gather freely, expired with the coming into force of the 1999 Constitution and we cannot now go back to the military era of shutting up citizens from legitimate expressions.
“We cannot be intimidated in our own country, by the same people who are paid to protect us”, he stressed.
