Nigeria’s democracy may be far from perfect. But there are basic laws in place that should guide us towards perfection in the country. The Constitution is the grundnorm, as they say. And it provides for fundamental rights to personal liberty; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; right to peaceful assembly and association; and right to freedom of movement, among other basic rights. These are rights that were hazarded in tussles over scheduled rallies in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
In Kogi State, suspended senator representing Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was at war with the state government over a rally staged by supporters in her honour last Tuesday. The lawmaker, who had faced a recall bid by her constituents until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ruled their petition incompetent, had a grand reception arranged by same constituents for her homecoming to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr. Natasha obviously wanted that reception, if only to show up the touted recall bid a ruse. But Kogi government imposed a preemptive ban on public gatherings, convoy movements and ancillary activities across the state on the eve of the Natasha reception. Why it did that is curious if not prevent the reception simply to sustain a narrative she was in trouble at the grassroots, which the reception could give the lie.
A statement by the state government cited security fears for its constriction of constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms. Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said there were intelligence reports of security threats occasioned by planned rallies and public gatherings in the state. But there was also an omnibus canvass. According to Fanwo, fishing activities had fomented crisis in Kogi West, communal clash between two communities in Ankpa council area was creating tension in Kogi East, while Intel showed certain elements were planning violent rallies in Kogi Central. Dispassionate analysts would argue that Kogi Central was the target, with other districts being only collaterals of a sweeping security abridgement of freedoms. “These flashes of disturbances are raising tension in the state and threatening to breach public peace and security. In view of this, and effective immediately, the Kogi State Government has placed a total ban on all forms of rallies or public gatherings that have the potential to disrupt public peace,” the commissioner stated. “This decision has been necessitated by intelligence reports indicating that certain individuals are plotting to infiltrate the state under the guise of organising rallies, using fake security personnel to foment trouble and compromise the security of law-abiding citizens of our dear state. While the government recognises the constitutional rights of citizens to gather and express themselves, security considerations must take precedence in the interest of public safety. As such, no individual, group or organisation is permitted to hold any form of rally within the state until further notice,” he added.
Reports said Okehi council chairman, Amoka Monday, reinforced the ban with imposition of a curfew on the area, and this was complemented with stern warning by the police to cancel the planned event involving the controversial senator.
Natasha has a reputation for being defiant, however, and she insisted on proceeding with the reception. “As the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to engaging with her community and fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation,” her media team said in a statement ahead of the event.
On Tuesday, the embattled lawmaker arrived to a rousing welcome by her supporters and residents of her native community. It so happened that far from being a trigger of public unrest, the event was festal. Reports said as early as 8a.m., supporters from the five council areas making up Kogi Central flooded Ihima community to welcome the suspended senator. Local musicians took turns to entertain the people while they awaited Natasha’s arrival; and when she arrived at the place in a white helicopter, she elicited excited applause from her jubilant supporters. “Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies and gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys leading into the state will not be allowed. I knew that we were the target. But then, I said, this is not political season, this is not campaign time,” she told the crowd. “We’re not having a rally. This is just me, the senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate the Sallah with you, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations,” she added.
In the aftermath of that event, there were calls for the lawmaker to be arrested by the police for defying the security ban. But you wonder on what basis, since there was no disruption to public peace resulting from the reception. The way things panned out actually showed the security alert and associated prohibitions to be a needless red herring. In other words, Kogi government owed both Natasha and people of the state an apology for superfluously curtailing their rights.
Same logic applies to a proposed solidarity rally scheduled for this Saturday in Bayelsa State for Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, which State Governor Douye Diri insists shouldn’t hold. Supporters of the minister have argued that the governor is dealing in rights infringement, and I hold that they have a point.
A group known as The New Associates, Bayelsa State chapter, recently announced plans for what it called an ‘Inauguration and Mega Rally’ scheduled for 12th April in Yenagoa. A leading promoter of the event and Bayelsa politician, George Turnah, was reported saying the planned rally was aimed at showing support for President Bola Tinubu and Wike, and that no effort is being spared to ensure a peaceful event. According to him, proper notifications have been sent to security agencies.
Diri, however, objected to the proposed event, alleging that the rally and inauguration of a political group loyal to Wike were aimed at destabilising his state. Speaking during separate meetings with the Bayelsa Elders Council and the 37th session of the Bayelsa State Security Council, he argued that the event has the potential of importing the political crisis in neighbouring Rivers State into Bayelsa. “The political crisis in Rivers State is already a threat to us, and we will not allow it to spill into Bayelsa This is not Rivers State. Bayelsa is the cradle of every Ijaw man. I have always said that being peaceful is not cowardice. We are very courageous, and we can stand up for the truth at all times,” he stated. “We will resist any attempt to import the Rivers crisis into Bayelsa. I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert,” he added.
The governor declared that no state-owned facility would be allowed for any gathering without explicit approval by his government, which obviously would be withheld from organisers of the pro-Wike rally given his upfront objection. He urged elders to take responsibility for younger ones, saying: “Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.”
Wike’s camp responded to the governor and accused him of hunting ghosts. Spokesman for the minister, Lere Olayinka, described Diri’s claims of a threat to public peace as “shamefully baseless” and accused the governor of using the minister’s name as a foil for his own shortcomings in governance. “It is unfortunate that a governor with all the security apparatus at his disposal would go on national television based on mere suspicion of people planning a rally,” he said in a statement, explaining that if Wike had any intention to attend a political event in Bayelsa, he would personally pre-notify appropriate security agencies. “Nigerians have the right to express their support for anyone, anywhere and at anytime,” he added.
Olayinka is right. The Bayelsa governor treaded amiss by seeking to curtail basic rights of some Nigerians, and he should return to the path of rectitude by allowing the rally to go ahead. If truly there’s potential threat to public peace from the proposed rally, a better option is to post security personnel at the venue to oversee but not constrain the ralliers unless there is actual trouble warranting containment through their intervention. Security personnel should indeed provide protection for the rally participants on Saturday – same as they should have done for Natasha and her constituents at the reception accorded her last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, it is duplicitous to support the prohibitions by Kogi government obviously targeted at Natasha while taking issue with the ban by Bayelsa government targeted at Wike. Neither is justified nor healthy for our democracy and should be roundly condemned.
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