Amnesty International: President Tinubu’s Legacy Undercut by Threatening Protesters
Protesters should not be threatened, according to Amnesty International, who believe that doing so would damage President Bola Tinubu’s legacy.
The ‘End terrible governance in Nigeria’ movement gained momentum on social media, and several high-ranking government officials voiced their concerns that criminals could use the protests as a platform to commit acts of violence.
They emphasised that the President is dedicated to resolving Nigerians’ problems and wellbeing, and they asked the people to have trust in the present government.
Security services were praised for their democratic conduct, nonetheless, by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Nigerian chairman of Amnesty International.
“When someone tries to intimidate the president by claiming his actions are illegal or that he will face consequences, they are actually undermining the president’s belief in democratic principles,” he stated on Saturday.
“I want to express my gratitude to the security agencies for coming to the realisation that their earlier threats to harshly respond to protesters—particularly those who were peaceful—were actually challenging the credibility of the Tinubu administration,” he stated.
“They were making democratic reversals because the President himself is someone who believes in democracy, and democracy gives people an opportunity to express themselves lawfully and peacefully.”
The 36 federation states plus the nation’s capital will host the demonstration from August 1-10.
Traditional chiefs, governors, religious and opinion leaders, and members of the security forces have already met with President Tinubu.
The rampant cost of living, the poverty index, and the escalating inflation rates are just a few of the economic indicators that have the demonstrators hell-bent on taking over the states.
Concerns voiced by security authorities include the possibility of violence reminiscent of the #EndSARS demonstration in October 2020, which sought, among other things, police reforms.
The head of Amnesty International is of the firm belief that violence has no place in these situations.
To prevent criminals from taking advantage of the situation, he demanded that the government and security agencies offer security cover for the demonstration.
“Both myself as an individual and the organisations I represent do not believe in violence because it is not a solution.” Protest, however, is an essential component of democratic principles, and the government must ensure its safety.
“The President, being a Democrat and having participated in previous protests, understands the value and importance.”
“I believe that the international community and Nigerians are currently observing and interpreting these statements made by hired individuals with religious overtones,” according to him.