CDD to security agencies: Provide safety support for protesters, fish out hoodlums

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has called on security agencies to protect protesters during the planned nationwide demonstration.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dauda Garuba, director of CDD West Africa, said the federal government should respect citizens’ rights to peaceful protest.

Garuba said every democratic state must have mechanisms to accept criticism or complaints by the citizens.

He expressed concern that the government and political leaders have attempted to discourage peaceful protest by associating the movement with negative connotations.

“This think tank calls on the Nigerian government to respect citizens’ right to peaceful assembly,” the statement reads.

“By upholding citizens’ right to protest, the government can ensure a peaceful two-way exchange by listening to the voices of and feedback from citizens.

“There can be no mistaking the fact that every democratic state must have the mechanisms to take criticism or complaints from its citizens.

“It is why avenues, such as peaceful protests, are important to ensure that the government is made aware of the considerable concerns that citizens have about the country.”

He said protest is a “legitimate and democratic” right of citizens, adding that “it is one of the vital mechanisms for expressing dissent, voicing concerns, and advocating for change”.

“In an ideal democratic setting, the voices of the people should be heard, and their grievances must be subsequently addressed,” he said.

“It is disheartening to see many leaders seeking to further shrink the civic space by calling on young Nigerians not to make their voices heard.

“This approach of demonising protests undermines the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and could lead to increased civic disengagement and increasing citizen apathy.

“It is the absence of a strong two-way exchange, between leaders and citizens, that leads to a breakdown in law and order.

“The Nigerian state therefore has a responsibility, as the region’s largest democracy and the current chair of the regional bloc, to set an example of robust dialogue and peaceful citizen engagement.”

The CDD director called on leaders of different activist groups leading the protest to ensure that the demonstration is carefully planned and coordinated.

He urged security agencies to prevent any form of disruption during the protest.