Amnesty International has cautioned against threatening protesters, stating that such actions would undermine President Bola Tinubu’s legacy.
Since the “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” movement gained traction on social media, many top government officials have advised against the demonstrations, arguing that they could be hijacked by hoodlums. They urged citizens to trust the current administration, emphasizing the President’s commitment to addressing their welfare and concerns.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman of Amnesty International in Nigeria, praised security agencies for their democratic conduct. He stated on Channels Television’s Dateline Abuja that threatening peaceful protesters undermines the President, who believes in democratic principles.
He thanked the security agencies for recognizing that initial threats to brutally deal with protesters undermined the Tinubu administration’s integrity, noting that democracy allows lawful, peaceful expression.
The protest, scheduled from August 1 to August 10 across Nigeria’s 36 states and the nation’s capital, aims to address grievances over the high cost of living, poverty, and worsening inflation. Security agencies, concerned about potential violence akin to the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, have met with President Tinubu, traditional rulers, governors, and opinion leaders to prepare.
Rafsanjani emphasized that violence is never a solution and called on the government and security agencies to provide security to ensure the protest remains peaceful and protected from hoodlums. He highlighted the President’s understanding of the importance of protests, given his history of participating in them, and noted that both Nigerians and the international community are observing the situation closely.
