NLC flays attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the attack on #RevolutionNow protesters and arrest of some of them by security agents was an affront on the nation’s democracy.

The action, it said, is contrary to the fundamental rights of individuals as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

General Secretary of Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, in a statement in Abuja insisted peaceful protests against bad governance or perceived anti-people government policies is one of the fundamental rights that aids the growth of democracy.

He demanded the release of Omoyele Sowore and others arrested by security agents.

The NLC scribe said the nation’s security agencies must not be allowed to continue to portray themselves as anti-democracy forces as the Monday’s attacks clearly demonstrated.

The statement reads: “It is with deep consternation that we view the attacks and arrests of peaceful protesters in some parts of the country by security agencies and military personnel on Monday during a protest by some Nigerians in Lagos, Osogbo, Ibadan, Abuja and other cities.

“There is nowhere in our constitution or laws that the security agencies are empowered to so brazenly attack peaceful protests and hound its organsers into detention as the right to peaceful protests, assembly and association is fully guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under sections 39 and 40.

“We view the violent attack on the peaceful protesters by security forces as a total violation of the fundamental rights of not just the protesters, but all Nigerian citizens as guaranteed by the constitution as well as various reported judgements of our Courts.

“It is much more worrisome that soldiers were deployed to attack protesters, especially in Lagos. To us, soldiers have no role whatsoever in the management of civil protest and they must be called to order by the federal government.

“We also view the midnight arrest of one of the organisers of the protests, Mr. Omoyele Sowore as an affront on his fundamental rights as well as our collective rights to freedom of expression and association as enshrined in all the international and national instruments that strengthens democracy.

“His continued detention by the State Security Service lacks any justification as his actions were not in any way threats to the sovereignty of Nigeria or the democratically constituted government of Nigeria.

“He was just one out of several Nigerians demanding for good governance being the minimum demand citizens can make from a government they democratically elected.

“Mr. Sowore and other protesters were not carrying arms against the state and we therefore demand their immediate release unconditionally.”