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Sat. Dec 21st, 2024
Trending News: WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADUTHERE’RE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIAPH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATIONNIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN AIRTEL GAINJUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4BN GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAILEKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSINGSOARING COSTS, SHRINKING INCOME DAMPEN YULETIDE CELEBRATIONSWE BUDGETED N213BN FOR ROAD NOT N55BN – ENUGU GOVTHOW TINUBU’S N1B OFFER TO NASS MEMBERS AVERTED TAX REFORM BILLS SHOWDOWN DURING BUDGET PRESENTATIONNORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARACOURT RESTORES SUSPENDED EDO LG CHAIRMENAPPEAL COURT FINES MTN N15 MILLION OVER UNSOLICITED MESSAGESCUSTOMS HAS NO RIGHT TO CONFISCATE FOREIGN RICE IN OPEN MARKET – COURT OF APPEALAT LAST, DELE FAROTIMI IS GRANTED BAILTINUBU REDEPLOYS 11 PERMANENT SECRETARIESHOW NIGERIAN SOLDIERS INVADED, DESTROYED MY RESIDENCE AT 2.30 AM, UCHE ANYA, ENUGU AGENCY BOSSENUGU GOVT MAPS OUT N146BN FOR EQUIPPING ITS SMART SCHOOLS IN 2025MARKETERS EXPECT CHEAPER PETROL AS DANGOTE CUTS PRICE TO N899.50/LITREDSS DIDN’T INVITE STATISTICIAN-GENERAL – NBSFG PLANS TO SLASH INFLATION FROM 34% TO 15% IN 2025KEMI BADENOCH AND THE NIGERIAN POLICEREVOKED ABUJA LAND DOESN’T BELONG TO ME – BUHARIGOVERNORS LACK POWER TO REMOVE LG CHAIRMEN – FGPEOPLE CURSE ME, MY FAMILY OVER TAX REFORM BILLS – OYEDELETAX REFORM BILLS DIVIDE FEDERAL LAWMAKERSNORTH-WEST HIGHEST IN CRIME INCIDENTS, SOUTH-EAST LOWESTABUJA DEMOLITION, SOLDIERS ATTACK WIKE’S MEN CART AWAY VEHICLEWE’RE INVESTIGATING IBADAN CARNIVAL STAMPEDE WHERE 32 CHILDREN DIED – POLICEPOLICE DETAIN PRINCIPAL OVER IBADAN CHILDREN CARNIVALS STAMPEDEINVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIADANGOTE REDUCES PETROL PRICE TO N899 PER LITREWIKE REVOKES PLOTS BELONGING TO BUHARI, ONNOGHEN, ABBAS, AKUME, OTHERSNO TO RENAMING OF UNIABUJA AFTER GOWON – ABUJA INDIGENOUS STUDENTSWHO RAISES CONCERN OVER RISING DIABETES IN NIGERIAKEMI BADENOCH WAS RIGHT, NIGERIAN POLICE STOLE MY PHONE IN 2019, BY ELIAS OZIKPUFG TO LAUNCH CONTACTLESS PASSPORT APPLICATION IN FOUR STATES NEXT MONTH – TUNJITINUBU RECONSTITUTES 12 RIVER BASINS, NAMES 72 APPOINTEESBUHARI, FRIEND OF THE POOR, DIDN’T REMOVE FUEL SUBSIDY – FEMI ADESINATINUBU WILL USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO FIGHT TERRORISTS IN 2025 – SENATOR JIMOH IBRAHIMDANGOTE REFINERY, NNPCL RESUME FIGHT OVER $1B DOLLAR LOANNIGERIA’S NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS WEBSITE HACKEDOVER HALF OF NIGERIANS WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTYYOU’RE ALL REELECTED, BUHARI TELLS LAWMAKERS, AFTER ADDRESSING THEM AS 11TH ASSEMBLYMANY CHILDREN FEARED DEAD IN IBADAN CARNIVAL STAMPEDETINUBU PRESENTS N47.96TRN 2025 BUDGET TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLYFORM ALLIANCE AGAINST TINUBU – LUKMAN TELLS OBJ, IBB, GEJ, BUHARI, GOWONDRAMA AS LAWMAKERS STOP RENDITION OF TINUBU’S ANTHEM DURING BUDGET PRESENTATIONFG APPROVES N30BN MECHANISED FARMING FOR 30 AGRIC UNIVERSITIESMTN PAYS N200BN MONTHLY IN VAT – TAX COMMITTEEWHY NNAMDI KANU’S RELEASE MAY NOT END INSECURITY IN SOUTH EAST – SOLUDOBIZZARE! WOMAN WHO SLEPT WITH 100 MEN IN A DAY EYES WORLD RECORDFOOD PRICES RISE TO 60.88% UNDER TINUBU614,937 NIGERIANS KILLED, 2.2M ABDUCTED IN ONE YEAR – NBSHOW I KILLED 76 WOMEN FOR FORTIFICATION – MYSTERIOUS IBADAN MANNO SUFFICIENT REASON FOR CONTINUED DETENTION OF NNAMDI KANU – OHANAEZESENATE MOVES TO BAN USE OF DOLLAR, OTHER FOREIGN CURRENCIES IN NIGERIAIGP BANS POLICE FORM PHONE CHECKS, ARBITRARY ARRESTSDESPITE LOCAL REFINERIES, NIGERIA SPENDS N9.1 TRILLION ON PETROLEUM IMPORTATIONNIGERIANS PAID N2.23 TRILLION RANSOM TO KIDNAPPERS IN 12 MONTHS – NBSCBN SET DAILY WITHDRAWAL LIMIT MONEY ON POS TO N100K PER CUSTOMEREDO ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS LG CHAIRMEN OVER GOVERNOR’S PETITIONLAGOS GOVT SEALS THE LORD’S CHOSEN, CELESTIAL CHURCH, HOTELS OVER NOISE POLLUTIONUNIZIK LECTURER, DR CHINEDU, SHOT DEAD BY CAR-SNATCHING SYNDICATENYSC MEMBER SLUMPS, DIES AT KEBBI ORIENTATION CAMPUNIABUJA, UNILAG, FUTA, OTHER RENAMED UNIVERSITIES THAT GENERATED CONTROVERSYNIGERIA LEADS WORLDWIDE IN CRYPTO OWNERSHIPRESIDENT NON-INDIGENES DECLARE 15 ANAMBRA LGAS INSECURENNPCL SUPPORTED DANGOTE REFINERY ESTABLISHMENT WITH $1 BILLION LOAN – OFFICIALEFCC ARRESTS 193 FOREIGNERS, 599 SUSPECTED NIGERIAN CRYPTO FRAUDSTERSCONFUSION AT CCT AS TWO MEN PARADE SELVES AS TRIBUNAL CHAIRMANBENIN REPUBLIC ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN NIGERIA TO UNDERSTUDY INECTOUGH FESTIVE SEASON AWAITS NIGERIANS AMID UNTAMED INFLATION SPIKETINUBU ASKS NIGERIAN MEDIA TO SUPPORT TAX REFORMS, LISTS BENEFITSENUGU SEEKS UNESCO HERITAGE STATUS FOR MILLIKEN HILL, IVA VALLEY, OTHER SITESTINUBU APPOINTS EIGHT NEW PERMANENT SECRETARIES FOR FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICEPURGE YOURSELF OF BAD EGGS, ADVICE TO JUDICIARYENUGU GOVERNOR, PETER MBAH, UNVEILS STATE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMFEC APPROVES N47.96 TRILLION BUDGET FOR 2025ADEMOLA LOOKMAN CROWNED 2024 CAF PLAYER OF THE YEARGOVERNORS AWARE OF ROADBLOCKS WE MOUNT – POLICEDEFENCE CHIEF ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF OKUAMA LEADERS IN MILITARY CUSTODYNORTH GROSSLY UNDERDEVELOPED -SANUSIBUHARI WAS USED, DUMPED, MADE STRANGER IN HIS GOVT – EX-MINISTER DALUNGTINUBU’S POLICIES, PATHWAY TO POVERTY – GOVNIGERIA’S INFLATION RATE SPIKES TO 34.60 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER AMID HARDSHIPSUPREME COURT IMPOSES N5M ON EX-PRESIDENT CANDIDATE FOR HARASSING TINUBU WITH FRIVOLOUS SUITSEX-GOVERNOR BONI HARUNA DENIES BRIBERY ALLEGATION OF 2004 ADAMAWA GUBER ELECTION PETITIONWIKE’S AIDE CARPETS WOMAN OVER ABUJA LAND, SAYS SHE WANTS TO INHERIT LAND THAT DIDN’T BELONG TO HER HUSBANDFG OVERSHOOTS 2024 BORROWING TARGET BY N4 TRILLIONDELE FAROTIMI DID NOT SEND ME TO PETER OBI TO BEG AFE BABALOLA – LAWYERTHIRTY-TWO STATE GOVERNORS PROPOSE N21.9TRN BUDGET FOR 2025GALE OF DEFLECTIONS: LABOUR PARTY SUFFERS HUGE SET BACK AHEAD OF 2027COUNCIL CHAIRMEN ALLEGEDLY HALT CONSTRUCTION OF FG’S N40B METHANOL PLANT PROJECT IN ENUGUECOWAS APPROVES EXIT OF NIGER, MALI, BURKINA FASOKEMI BADENOCH: LIKE DAUGHTER, LIKE FATHERX-RAYING PETER MBAH’S TOWN HALL MEETING, BY DONS EZENIGERIA CLEARS N85BN, $54M ECOWAS LEVY AFTER 19 YEARS2027 PRESIDENCY: WE’RE NOT WOOING JONATHAN – PDPFRESH DISQUALIFICATION SUIT: SUPREME COURT DECIDES TINUBU’S FATE TOMORROWOVER 200 TERRORISM SUSPECTS GET DEATH SENTENCE, LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Sat. Dec 21st, 2024

NOBODY CAN STOP OCTOBER 1 PROTESTS – INIBEHE EFFIONG

download 2024 09 07T051430.036 3

NOBODY CAN STOP OCTOBER 1 PROTESTS – INIBEHE EFFIONG
Human rights activist and one of the lawyers representing detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, in this interview, gives reasons October 1 protests must go on. He frowns at what he calls criminalisation of protest by the Tinubu administration, saying Nigerians shouldn’t be deterred in the face of state-sponsored intimidation.
Another round of protests against hardship is scheduled for October 1.This is despite the fact that some of those who protested recently are still detained across the country. What can you say about it?
Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest. And that right shouldn’t be given to government. We cannot live in a country that pretends to be in a democracy, at the same time, we are disallowing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It is no longer that the Tinubu regime is not happy. What is important is that the country is in a terrible shape, Nigerians are aggrieved and have the right to protest. In fact, Nigerians have the right to protest everyday. If people choose to embark on indefinite protest until the issues in the country are addressed, it is within their constitutional rights. The constitution did not limit the duration of protest or even the reason for protest as long as it is lawful and legitimate. To that extent, I am in support of Nigerians who want to protest. And deploying security agents to arrest citizens who are protesting is simply wrong and condemnable. We will continue to stand up for anyone whose right is violated on account of peaceful protest.
Our determination is unflinching. The same way government is determined to interfere with the right of the citizens to protest, the same way we are determined to defend that right. We are not going to negotiate that right with government. The arrests are baseless. The attempt to trivialise treason and make a mockery of our criminal justice system is a reminder that those in power lack democratic credentials. We in the civil society must be unrelenting in our determination to ensure that we uphold the principles of equity. We will continue to provide support for anyone wrongly arrested on account of joining a peaceful protest.
There is an atmosphere of fear in the country because people are scared about coming to protest on October 1…
I don’t think anyone should be afraid. All these charges they are filing are just an attempt to distract people. Government just wants to distract Nigerians from the real issues. Nobody should be scared of exercising his or her constitutional right. This is our country; it doesn’t belong to Tinubu or All Progressives Congress, APC. All Nigerians have equal rights in the country. People have to conquer their fears and insist on their rights. Ultimately, the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. I am encouraging Nigerians to overcome fears. The attempt to terrorise people must be defeated. Nobody should be frightened on account of the abuse of criminal justice system by the Tinubu regime.

You are one of the lawyers of those detained for embarking on the first #EndBadGovernance protests, and you were even in court today, Friday. Why do you think government is continuing with the trial despite nationwide outrage?
Regarding the people in detention, to secure their release, several actions are being filed in court. We are challenging their detention while some of them have been granted bail. We are also going to represent all those arrested on account of the protests. For the October 1 protest, we are also engaging law enforcement agencies. We have written a letter to the Inspector General of Police to notify him about the protests. On our part, we would afford protection to any Nigerian whose right is trampled upon just because the person participated in protest.
How many people are still in detention for participating in the last protest?
I can’t put a figure to that. We have been informed that some are being detained by the DSS and the police. I don’t have a definite number. Nobody should be criminalised for protesting. As much as we are aware, we are doing all we can to address the issues. We are unrelenting in making sure they are released. There would be no meeting point in this matter except all the detainees are released. It is not a matter for negotiation. It is a shame on them that Nigerians are being arrested for expressing their grievances. That kind of treatment should not be tolerated under a supposed democratic dispensation.
At some point, you were a victim of human rights violation and you were detained. What can you say about the human rights record of this administration?
My experience emboldened me. What is clear is that those in authority in our country are not democrats, they are dictators. The Tinubu regime is not democratic, they are just pretending. If the administration is democratic, why are they denying people the right to protest? Why are they attacking the media by arresting journalists?
Are you confident that detained protesters would get justice?
Yes, they will. We are not bothered about the charges government brings. Why are they arresting people? Government said they committed treason on WhatsApp. I don’t know what that means. Maybe when the trial starts we would know what they mean. It is important for us in the human rights space and the people to hold our leaders accountable. And that is what we are going to do.
Do you foresee Nigerians coming out en mass this time?
I don’t agree that Nigerians do not have the capacity to sustain protest. There were protests before and after #EndSARS. I think the significant thing is that Nigerians have refused to be a conquered people whether the Tinubu regime likes it or not. People must continue to protest because if they don’t, what other options do they have? The situation in the country is bad, this administration has destroyed the economy, inflation has affected the people and nothing is happening. The President is buying new aircraft while the people are suffering. Why wouldn’t there be protest? People shouldn’t be intimated because of the viciousness of an inept administration.

    • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

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    INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA

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