A coalition advocating for peace and national stability has cautioned the Edo Rights Coalition against proceeding with a planned demonstration in support of detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Nuhu Makama, spokesman for the Coalition for Peace, Justice and National Stability, issued the warning on Monday in Abuja, describing the proposed protest as potentially dangerous to public order and national security.
“It is important to state that Kanu’s case remains before a court of competent jurisdiction, and as such, all parties must allow the rule of law and due judicial process to take its course,” Makama said in a statement made available to journalists.
He argued that staging demonstrations over a matter currently before the courts amounts to exerting undue pressure on the judiciary and could be interpreted as an attempt to influence judicial outcomes outside legal frameworks.
The coalition spokesman warned that such gatherings often attract miscreants and politically motivated individuals who exploit the situation for nefarious purposes.
“Experience has shown that protests of this nature often create openings for miscreants and politically motivated actors to infiltrate and exploit the situation, leading to disturbances, vandalism, or violence,” he stated.
Makama noted that such developments could disrupt social order and threaten the peace currently being sustained across the country.
Whilst acknowledging that the right to peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed, he stressed that civic organisations must exercise this right responsibly and with respect for judicial authority.
“I therefore urge civic organisations and advocacy groups to pursue their causes through lawful, peaceful, and constructive engagement that strengthens national unity rather than endangers it,” he said.
The coalition spokesman called on Nigerians to prioritise peace, cohesion and national development above sectional interests, particularly during what he described as a critical period in the nation’s journey.
“True patriotism lies in upholding democratic values, respecting the rule of law, and supporting institutions of justice, not in actions that could derail them,” Makama added.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Kanu’s continued detention, with various groups calling for different outcomes in the matter.
Kanu has been in detention since his rearrest and extradition to Nigeria in June 2021, facing charges including terrorism and treasonable felony, which he denies.
