The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that it is wrong for his administration to jail people protesting economic hardship in the land.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent incarceration of #EndBadGovernance protesters by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, Afenifere warned the government against descent into fascism.
In a statement by the group loyal to Pa Ayo Adebanjo and signed by HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan (Afenifere Deputy Leader) and Prince Justice Faloye (National Publicity Secretary), Afenifere called for the “immediate unconditional release” of the protesters.
further cautioned the Tinubu’s administration to restrain “from slipping into a dictatorship that criminalizes the inalienable right of Nigerians to protest for self-preservation and upholding of social contracts.”
According to Afenifere, the suspicion of being backed or financed by a foreign country is not enough to jail protesters, even as it reminded President Tinubu that he was once supported by foreign interests to protect against the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
The statement stated thus; “Purporting that some protestors, despite not backed by arms, politicians nor ideology, were treasonable because of suspected foreign financers, President Tinubu, and his party must be reminded that foreign institutions once financially and morally backed them to protest, launch anti-corruption and political campaigns against President Jonathan, who though publicly complained, never charged them with treason, despite clear evidence of foreign foundations and institutions involvement.
“So President Tinubu and his ruling party have no moral right to charge any protester against bad governance, especially unarmed and underage protestors.
“The government can’t jail Nigerians feeling the pain and protesting its debilitating economic policies and fuel shortages due to a privatized NNPC that has privatized its retail wing to those monopolizing petrol stations, where huge queues accumulate to buy slightly cheaper petrol at newly acquired NNPC stations while other petrol stations either don’t have fuel or have to sell at exorbitant prices.”
The body said instead of accusing the protesters of treason, the government is guilty of “economic treason” due to its “economic misgovernance”.
The group maintained that the petrol and foreign exchange issues were at the root of the nation’s economic hardship adding that this could have been resolved within 100 days of the administration by “halving our import bill made up of fuels/oils – 33% ($21b), Vehicles 21% ($13.42 billion) and edibles 10% ($6.71b).”
Afenifere statement comes on the heels of the government prosecution of 10 protesters on allegations of treason and attempting to destabilize the country.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters standing trial for alleged treason.
The defendants include Michael Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent. Others are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu.
Arraigned before Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, on September 2, they all pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit a felony, and inciting mutiny — which are punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code.
The government also accused them of trying to start a war, intimidating the president by attacking and injuring police officers, and burning police stations.
