Amnesty International Nigeria warns that threatening protesters undermines President Tinubu’s legacy. The #EndBadGovernance protests, starting August 1, aim to address economic hardships. Chairman Auwal Musa Rafsanjani emphasizes the need for peaceful demonstrations and urges the government to protect protesters, highlighting the importance of democratic rights.
Amnesty International Nigeria's chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has issued a stern warning against threats to protesters, stating that such actions could undermine President Bola Tinubu's legacy.
The warning comes as the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests are set to commence on August 1, 2024, in response to economic hardships.
The protest, gaining significant traction on social media, has faced opposition from government officials who caution that it might be hijacked by hoodlums. They have urged citizens to trust in the administration's commitment to addressing their concerns.
Despite this, Rafsanjani praised security agencies for their democratic conduct, emphasizing that any threats against peaceful protesters undermine the democratic values President Tinubu upholds.
“For anybody to come and say what you are doing is illegal or we will deal with you when you do that, you are actually undermining the President who so much believes in the democratic tenets,” Rafsanjani stated on Channels Television’s Dateline Abuja.
He thanked security agencies for recognizing that their initial threats against protesters were damaging to the Tinubu administration's integrity.
Scheduled from August 1 to August 10 across Nigeria, the protest aims to address high living costs, poverty, and worsening economic conditions. Security agencies, in meetings with President Tinubu, have sought support from traditional rulers, governors, and opinion leaders to ensure peaceful demonstrations.
Concerns linger that the protests could mirror the violence of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Rafsanjani reiterated that violence is not a solution, calling on the government and security forces to protect the protesters. He highlighted that peaceful protest is a democratic right and urged the authorities to provide security to prevent hoodlums from exploiting the situation.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of safeguarding democratic rights and the value of peaceful protest, noting that both the international community and Nigerians are closely monitoring the situation.
