…as FG’s strategy to contain threats unfolds
Rights groups are insisting that they will push forward with the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to take place across the country for 10 days starting from Thursday, August 1.
This is as the Federal Government’s strategy to curtail worrisome possibilities from the protest is beginning to present increasing clarity.
The #EndBadGovernance protest seeks to highlight to the Federal Government the mounting discomforts being endured by the general populace as a result of economic hardship occasioning the rising cost of goods and services, including food, and seek reliefs.
The National Bureau of Statistics’ Selected Food Price Watch for June 2024 shows that the average price of 1kg of brown beans stood at N2,292.76. This indicates a rise of 252.13 per cent in price on a year-on-year basis from N651.12 recorded in June 2023 and a 14.11 per cent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,009.23 in May 2024. The NBS reports similar hikes in the prices of staples such as garri, yam and tomatoes.
There are indications that the government is employing appeals and subtle threats in an attempt to remove wind from the sail of the protest. President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and other top brass have been appealing that the protest be called off for conciliation to set in and to avoid security threats.
Analysts, however, say that going by standard security procedures and recent utterances of key government officials, the strategy being adopted by the Federal Government in addressing the impending protest include insistence on establishing the identities of its leaders for the purpose of opening channels for dialogue, conciliation and orderliness, as well as to ensure responsibility in the conduct of the protest.
Other strategies deployed to contain the fallout, our sources said, include highlighting and sometimes expanding the inherent risks of such protests so as to discourage participation by otherwise willing participants, especially exuberant youth.
Along these lines, the Department of State Services (DSS) has warned the organisers of the protest against proceeding with it, describing it as politically motivated.
The DSS claimed it had uncovered a plan by some criminal elements to hijack the protest and cause unrest in the country.
The Defence Headquarters also declared that the planned protest had the potential to degenerate into anarchy and a reign of terror.
There is also a strategy to discourage miscreants and other mischief makers by establishing security presence in dark spots and announcing the readiness of the police to deal with such incidents.
Government’s containment strategy also includes efforts to minimise risks to the general public, protesters, law enforcement officials, as well as public and private property and infrastructure.
Yet others, include to avoid friction between protesters and law enforcement officers.
The Defence Headquarters said it was monitoring the situation around the proposed nationwide protest.
Director of Defence Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said on Friday that the military would only become involved if the police were overwhelmed.
“The military is in situational awareness mode, monitoring events related to the planned protest. According to the constitution, we will only get involved when invited due to the police being overwhelmed,” Buba said.
However, rights groups say there is no going back. This is as several groups are reported to have come up and identified themselves as organisers and intending participants in the protest. The groups include Concerned Nigerians, Nigerians Against Hunger, Initiative for Change, Take it Back Movement, Revolution Now, Human Rights Co-Advocacy Group, Nigerians Against Corruption Initiative, Citizens for Change Advocacy Initiative, Timely Intervention, and Active Citizens Group.
Others include Students for Change, We Coalition, Total Intervention, Refurbished Nigeria, Tomorrow Today, Our Future in Our Own Hands Initiative, Youths Against Tyranny, and Call a Spade a Spade Movement, among others.
In Abuja, the Take It Back Group (TIB) has insisted its members would go ahead with the exercise and demanded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to provide facilities at the Eagle Square for them.
On his part, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said participants in the planned nationwide protest would receive free legal representation if arrested in Lagos State.
Another senior lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), said there were enough sections in the law that allowed for protest.
“Nobody can stop a protest. The Nigerian Constitution is not against protest, peaceful protest. That is the right to assembly. It is normal for people to be divided about an issue. Those speaking against the protest are only doing political management,” Kalu said.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, said the goal of the protest would be achieved and would last longer than any previous protest.
Sowore allayed the fears of Nigerians regarding violence on the protest day, saying it would be a success for the police and other security agencies.
