The previous Deputy Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to right away order the unconditional launch of all starvation protesters detained by the police and different safety forces.
In an announcement launched on Sunday in Abuja, Frank additionally urged the President to stop additional violence and the usage of deadly pressure in opposition to peaceable protesters by legislation enforcement businesses.
He criticiaed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for what he referred to as the latter’s antagonistic stance in the direction of the protesters and prompt that President Tinubu ought to dismiss him if he continues to point out disrespect in the direction of Nigerian youths.
“Nigerians have the inalienable proper to protest in opposition to authorities insurance policies that adversely have an effect on them and to demand adjustments for the collective good,” Frank acknowledged.
He acknowledged that whereas the continuing protests are well-intentioned, they’ve been exploited by sponsored teams in some states, which have aimed to discredit the organizers and supply safety forces with an excuse to suppress the demonstrations.
“This shouldn’t be the case. The holiday Decide in Abuja who curtailed the rights of protesters by unjustly proscribing them to the Moshood Abiola Stadium and different public areas in Lagos additionally dominated that the police and different safety businesses ought to defend the protesters each in Abuja and different elements of the nation,” he famous.
Frank criticised the safety forces for failing to stick to the courtroom’s order, which resulted within the unjust killings, arrests, brutalisation, and incarceration of protesters, in addition to the hijacking of protests by government-sponsored brokers to perpetuate legal acts.
“This example should not be allowed to proceed. The President should genuinely defend the youths who’re protesting. He should method the protesters like a father coping with an offended baby. In any case, the youths haven’t any different nation to name their very own.”
Because the United Liberation Motion for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Center East, Frank condemned FCT Minister Wike for acquiring a biased courtroom order that sought to restrict protesters to the Abuja Stadium. He additionally praised the braveness of the demonstrators who defied the order.
“The enforcement of this unjust order has led to peaceable protesters being tear-gassed by the police, arrested, and detained in giant numbers, alongside the harassment of journalists,” Frank emphasised.
He warned that any additional acts of aggression in opposition to peaceable protesters by the police and different safety businesses may escalate tensions and provoke resistance from the protesters.
Frank referred to as for the worldwide group to carefully monitor the continuing protests and the safety forces’ brutal responses. He urged the US, United Kingdom, and European Union to impose visa bans on the FCT Minister and the chiefs of police and the military chargeable for the mistreatment of protesters.
Expressing condolences to the households of those that have misplaced their lives and wishing a speedy restoration for the injured, Frank urged the Worldwide Legal Courtroom to carry the Inspector Normal of Police and all Service Chiefs in Nigeria accountable for the killings of unarmed protesters in current days.
He vowed to petition the ICC to prosecute Wike and the IGP for ordering the police to make use of tear gasoline and reside ammunition in opposition to unarmed peaceable protesters in Abuja and Kano, respectively.
Frank urged the Federal Authorities to keep away from utilizing pressure in opposition to the protesters, stating that “solely dialogue and peaceable engagements can convey the much-needed decision to the protests.”
