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Tag: rallies

  • Pro-Jonathan TAN rallies indecent, says APC

    Pro-Jonathan TAN rallies indecent, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that the rallies held across the country by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) represent an assault on the intelligence and sensibilities of Nigerians, at a time of insecurity and health challenges.

    Responding to the defence of the rallies, the party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos yesterday that no amount of inversion of reasoning by the TAN foot soldiers could wash them (the rallies) clean of shame and disgust.

    It said only those described as ‘morons and sycophants’ by Prof. Wole Soyinka could engage in celebratory rallies when soldiers were dying on the Boko Haram battle front, when citizens were daily being sent to their graves by insurgents and when the country was still reeling from the challenge of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which had killed many people.

    APC wondered how the inauguration of its regional executives in Sokoto could be equated with the rallies being held across the country by TAN, which was another name for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), another name for shame, incompetence, cluelessness, cruelty, insincerity and insensitivity.

    The party said if President Goodluck Jonathan had not been running a government hallmarked by impunity, there was no way any party would have begun campaign under the guise of a non-government organisation (NGO) coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, governors and other public officials.

    “The PDP-led Federal Government and its ‘NGO’ called TAN are bare-faced liars and cheats. They have seized an undue advantage over every other party by defying the nation’s laws to start an early campaign, and no one, not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dares call them to order! Little wonder, their podiums are collapsing under the weight of their lies,” it said.

    APC slammed TAN’s self-serving Director of Communications, Mr. Udenta Udenta, for attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians by justifying the rallies.

    “We have the following posers for the deceptive and pigs-at-the trough TAN organisers: If Mr. Udenta and his co- travellers were parents, relations or friends of any of the over 200 missing Chibok schoolgirls, wouldn’t such TAN rallies offend their sensibilities? If Udenta or any of his co-travellers in TAN had lost a relation or dear one to EVD in Port Harcourt, wouldn’t such a rally in the same city about the same time offend their sensibilities? Can  Udenta tell Nigerians the source of funding of TAN? Can Udenta tell Nigerians how much TAN has spent so far in canvassing  Jonathan’s re-election or for that matter how much it spends daily on radio jingles, television and newspapers adverts, billboards, etc? Can Udenta tender to the public TAN’s audited account?

    “We know Udenta has no answers to these posers, but we have no iota of doubt that Nigerians know that TAN is funded and powered by the massive corruption of this government, including but not limited to the missing $20 billion, the over $1trillion fuel subsidy scam, the kerosene subsidy scam, the hundreds of thousands of barrels of our crude oil being stolen daily, the pension scam, the Malibu Oil scandal, etc. We also know through which top functionaries of government funds are funnelled to TAN,” the party said.

    APC said it would not stop calling for an end to the TAN rallies until common sense prevailed and the President, who waited for an international condemnation of his #BringBackJonathan hash tag before taking action, was again forced to call his selfish sycophants to order.

    “Our soldiers are combating Boko Haram literally with their bare hands and under the most intolerable conditions and our government is partying around town. As we write, a war plane has been declared missing in the battle zone and our government is celebrating. Clearly, if a fraction of the funds TAN has been expending in its multi-billion naira adverts on radio, television, newspapers, billboards, online and on London buses, not to talk of the mobilisation for rallies, can be made available to our soldiers, Boko Haram would have long been forgotten.

    “These times call for deep reflection and not for deep throats. These times call for cool-headed and decent men and women to realise that a nation at war cannot be celebrating, because it sends a wrong message to the men and women deployed in the battle zone to protect our nation. This is not about politics, this is about common sense, sensibilities and decency,” the party said.

     

  • 2015 TAN begins Rallies For Jonathan

    2015 TAN begins Rallies For Jonathan

    A political group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria(TAN), said yesterday that it will begin rallies for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election from August 16.

    The rally will take off in Awka, the Anambra State capital, and hold in other deep political zones.

    The group’s Director of Public Communications and Strategy, Udenta O. Udenta, spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka. He said TAN was worried over “the almost near absence of coverage of President Jonathan’s very many achievements nationwide”.

    He noted that the negative antics of the few traducers of the administration were unconscionably allowed to dominate the public pace.

    Udenta urged Nigerians to carefully take a dispassionate look at Jonathan’s achievements.

    Listing some of the achievements sector by sector, he said these included oil/gas, roads, agriculture, power, sports, railway, women/youth empowerment, housing, port reforms, electoral reforms, aviation, port reforms, automobile industry and the National Conference.

    He said: “Membership cuts across the 36 states and political party affiliations in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), United Peoples Party (UPP) and others. Members are expected to be in Awka for the maiden mega rally.”

  • A tale of two rallies

    A tale of two rallies

    One group was all women. The other had a few men. Each group was marching for a cause in Abuja. But the causes for which they were protesting were at variance. The concern of the all-women group was the need for the Goodluck Jonathan administration to rescue the 234 school girls snatched from their hostel in Chibok, Borno State by members of Boko Haram. The group, which was joined by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, was at the National Assembly and was addressed by the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate, who assured them that they felt their pains and would mount pressure on the Presidency to get the girls rescued.  Despite the rain, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal  and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha addressed the women.

    Mark, who acted as the spokesperson, told the women that the Senate was concerned about the development. He said this was why the Senate dedicated its plenary on Tuesday to the matter. He said the country had reached a stage where it could no longer tolerate the insurgents and must take the battle to them.

    He added: “ We share with you in your pain and we will work with all arms of government to make sure our children are brought back in the earliest time possible.”

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, who is attending the National Conference, said:  “In the African tradition, you are your brother’s or sister’s keeper and that is why I am here”.

    The other rally was by a group  campaigning for Dr Goodluck Jonathan  and its concern— at this time when all are concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the country and all seek the return of the abducted girls— is to plead with Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015, a development seen by observers as shameful.

    To add salt to injury, the group downplayed the seriousness of the Nyanya bombing by bearing a banner that the people of Nyanya are supporting Jonathan for 2015.

    The missing girls could have been anybody’s daughters, including those of the women who bore placards begging Jonathan to run and declaring him the best that has ever happened to the country. Perhaps aware of the queer nature of their campaign, they never bothered to seek audience with the National Assembly like the other group did.

    Observers say the women who partook in the Jonathan-must-run rally behaved as though there was nothing wrong with the abduction of the girls and the general insecurity in the land. For them, these are two rallies: one for a good cause and the other for a shameful cause, which should be condemned by all and sundry.

  • Naira rallies to six-week high on NNPC dollar sales

    The naira rallied to its strongest level in almost six weeks as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sold dollars to the local market.

    Oil producers, including the NNPC, are the biggest source of dollar after the Central Bank of Nigeria, which offers foreign exchange at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays to maintain local-currency stability. The naira is the best performer among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg in April, climbing 2.4 per cent.

    Bloomberg said naira gained one per cent to 161.19 per dollar the highest since February 28 on an intraday basis. The currency has climbed for two days, paring this year’s decline to 0.6 per cent.

    “The rally in the foreign-exchange market is the product of NNPC dollar sales coupled with an aggressive offshore bid for naira fixed-income assets,” Samir Gadio, a London-based emerging-markets strategist at Standard Bank Group Ltd., said. “It looks like the bullish external risk environment is pushing foreign investors to come back to the Nigerian market.”

    Omar Farouk Ibrahim, an Abuja-based spokesman for NNPC, didn’t answer a call to his mobile phone or immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

    Naira sovereign bonds returned 0.9 per cent in the past week, compared with a 0.6 per cent return in emerging-market government debt, according to Bloomberg indexes.

  • Obiano rallies communities for peace

    Obiano rallies communities for peace

    A new leadership of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has been inaugurated and Governor Willie Obiano is hoping the association will be a veritable instrument of peace and harmony in the state.

    The governor has since made it clear that his administration wants community leaders to play an active role in achieving peace in the state.

    St Peter’s Catholic Church Amawbia grounds were packed with people as the new leadership took office. The association was without leadership for eight years since the previous executive was dissolved.

    Governor Obiano has continued to appeal to the town union executives to bring their vantage positions to bear on the peace process in the state. He has also sought to push through his peace plan with the help of three commissioners, Commissioner for Town Union and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Godfrey Muotolu; Commissioner for Local Government, Lady Azuka Enemuo and former Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Dubem Obaze.

    The new leadership of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) led by Dr. Jude Okolo was inaugurated in Amawbia-Awka, Anambra State by the association’s Board of Trustees chairman, Chief Demian Afam Okeke- Ogene.

    Before the ASATU executives were inaugurated, a new nine-member Board of Trustees of the association derived from the three senatorial zones of the state led by Chief Demian Afam Okeke-Ogene was also inaugurated by former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Dubem Obaze. The board members are to play an advisory role to the Anambra State fourth tier of government.

    Shortly after his inauguration, the board chairman, Chief Okeke-Ogene in his speech thanked the ASATU members for finding him worthy to serve in that capacity even as he lauded the entire members for remaining in unity despite divergent political views and interest.

    Okeke-Ogene who is one of the founding members of the association in 1996, explained that the major goal of the association is to unite all the 177 communities in the state by ensuring intra- and inter-communal peace. He stressed that, “any government in power ought to give ASATU 100 per cent support”.

    Okeke-Ogene was Special Adviser to National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Rt Justice Eze Ozobu; Representative of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Europe for four years; former President General of Nanka Patriotic Union; pioneer member and pioneer PRO ASATU and Second elected National President of ASATU. He was also the Director of Community Mobilization during Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife regime.

    Chief Okeke-Ogene thanked the former Anambra governor, Mr. Peter Obi for making ASATU the fourth tier of government and for approving the award of  contract for construction of a befitting ASATU secretariat in the state, arguing that it is wrong for government to sack elected Town Union presidents without due process and verifiable evident.

    “Such development,” according to him, “ will no longer be tolerated in the scheme of things of ASATU”.

    Some of the newly inaugurated ASATU executives include: Dr. Jude Okolo, President; Ambassador J.U Ubah; Mike Nnakwuzie and Ignatius Ilo, first to third Vice Presidents, respectively. Others are: Peter Nwagu and Christian Okafor, Secretary and First Assistant Secretary. Chuka Ogbonna, Financial Secretary; Basil Onwuzume, Treasurer; Mike Anierobi, First Auditor; Oliver Okafor, Publicity Secretary, among others.

    While inaugurating the new board members, the former Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner, Chief Dubem Obaze congratulated the new board of trustee members as well as the newly elected Executives of the association.

    He enjoined the new leaders to strive at all times to work as a team, cooperate with the government and restrict the framework of ASATU to ensure peace and harmony among the 177 communities in Anambra State.

    Obaze said no other state in Nigeria has a formidable and united Town Union as Anambra State. He stated that he fought against autonomous community as a commissioner because he suspected that it could lead to communal crisis and clumsiness in governance as is being currently witnessed in other neighbouring states in the South-East.

    Obaze therefore, charged the Board members not to derail in their advisory role which according to him will enable the new executives to pursue a common goal of simultaneous development in the State.

    He insisted that Chief Willie Obaino demands nothing from them more than peace and unity to move the state forward as no meaningful development could be achieved in the state without peace.

    Obaze concluded: “There is nothing greater than peace and what our governor wants from them is peace in our various communities and nothing else for him to work and people to see that he is working because with crisis whatever you do will be swallowed. I am not saying only peace in ASATU but peace in their various communities and with peace in the communities there would be peace in Anambra’’.

    Head of Local Government Administration of Idemmili North, Chief Chike Obuekwe had this to say: “I am happy the way they all came together for a peaceful transition despite that they came from different political parties but they are mindful of the peace and development of the state. They forgot their selfish desires and pursued the collective interest of Anambra people and that is what true leadership should be. I am not afraid of the capability of those entrusted with the leadership of our communities and their board of trustees chairman Okeke-Ogene. I can only but wish them well.”

    Anambra State Woman Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo , Mrs Patience Enemuo , former President General Oraifite Town Union , Sir Raphs Nwike  and former Assistant National Secretary of ASATU who doubles as President General Ebenebe Town Union , Prince Cletus Osieme described the transition as laudable and appealed to the new leadership to ensure the peace and unity of purpose found in Anambra that enabled it to be the center of attraction in Southeast and Nigeria at large is not lost in their administration.

    In his acceptance speech, the new National President of ASATU and President-General, Oraifite Town Union, Dr. Jude Okolo promised to uphold the integrity of the 4th tier of Government in Anambra state.

    He beckoned on the out-gone EXCOS not to abandon them, promising that his administration will leave up to the expectations of the founding fathers, saying, “we will not clash with the government. We shall assist the government in securing lives and properties of the citizens. As we forge ahead, there will be capacity building for members on the code of conduct. So, if we play our role well, the work will be easier for the government”.

    In her goodwill message, the State Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs Azuka Enemmuo admitted that ASATU has made its mark in all the communities in Anambra State. She thanked them for maintaining peace in all the communities during Gov. Peter Obi’s administration and urged them to extend greater support to the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

    “You were instrumental to the transition from Obi to Obiano and from Agulu to Aguleri,” she said.

    Earlier, Okolo’s immediate predecessor, Dr. Innocent Onwubuya in his eight-page valedictory speech, x-rayed ASATU, tracing its early days in 1996 and the bearing of former governor of the state, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the late Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), the late Chief John Nwadiogbu, Igwe Gibson Nwosu and Chief Demain Afam Okeke-Ogene, among others.

    Chief Onwubuya enumerated the achievement of his administration in ASATU including pushing for and consolidating the position of ASATU in Ohaneze Ndigbo among other sundry benefits, expressing optimism that Obiano’s administration will still maintain the cordial relationship between the former governor, Chief Peter Obi and ASATU.

    He said: “We are confident that the present administration of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano will not relent in ensuring the close relationship between ASATU and the State Government’’.

    The new face of leadership of the 177 communities in the state has just begun and time will tell how their support to Chief Willie Obiano , Governor Anambra state will shape his administration.

  • ‘Police permit not  required for rallies’

    ‘Police permit not  required for rallies’

    It has  become habitual for the Police to disrupt or refuse request for rallies  by the opposition and human rights groups. The last of such actions was a planned rally by a group, Save Rivers  Movement, which was disrupted by the police. Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) writes that under the law, the power to issue permit is vested in the governor of a state and not the police

    In January 2012, the mass protests against the so-called removal of fuel subsidy were

    violently disrupted by the police and the army personnel. During its recent industrial action the Academic Staff Union of Universities had cause to direct its members to embark on protests to draw public attention to the underfunding of public universities in Nigeria. The police dispersed the protesting academics with tear gas. A fortnight ago, a political rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was brutally suppressed by the police.

    In justifying the violent attack, Mr. Joseph Mbu, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police claimed that the rally was unauthorized as the conveners did not obtain police permit. Since the disruption of public meetings and rallies is an infringement of the fundamental right of Nigerians to freedom of association, assembly and expression it is pertinent to draw the attention of the authorities to the state of the law on public meetings.

    Under the Public Order Act (Cap P42) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 the power to regulate public meetings, processions and rallies in any part of Nigeria was exclusively vested in the governors of the respective states of the Federation.

    Thus, by virtue of section 1 of the Act the Commissioner of Police or any other police officer could not issue a licence or permit for any meeting or rally without the authority of the governor. In other words, no police officer was competent to issue a permit for holding any public meeting or rally or cancel any such public meeting or rally without the authority of the governor of a state.

    In the case of All Nigeria Peoples Party  & Ors. v. Inspector General of Police (2006) CHR 181the Plaintiffs being registered  political parties requested the Defendant, the Inspector-General by a letter dated 21st May, 2004 to issue Police Permits to their members to hold unity rallies throughout the country to protest the rigging of the 2003 elections. The request was refused. There was a violent disruption of the rally organized in Kano on the 22nd of September 2003 on the ground that no police permit was obtained.

    In a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police, the Plaintiffs challenged the constitutional validity of police permit under the Public Order Act and the violent disruption of the rally. In defending the action the Defendant contended that the conveners of the rally did not obtain a police permit. In dismissing the contention of the Police the trial judge, the Honourable Justice Chinyere stated inter alia: “The gist of the provision in section 1 of the Act is that the Governor of each State is empowered to direct the conduct of all assemblies, meetings and processions on public roads or places of public resort in the state and prescribe the route by which and times at which the procession may pass.

    Persons desirous of convening or collecting any assembly or meeting or of forming a procession in any public resort must apply and obtain the license of the Governor. The Governor can delegate his powers to the Commissioner of Police of the State or to other police officers. Persons aggrieved by the decision of the Commissioner of Police may appeal to the Governor and the decision of the Governor shall be final and no further appeal shall lie therefrom.”

    On the inconsistency of police permit with sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 the learned trial judge said: “In my view, the provision in section 40 of the Constitution is clear, direct and unambiguous. It is formulated and designed to confer on every person the right to assemble freely and associate with other persons. I am therefore persuaded by the argument of Mr. Falana that by the combined effect of sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the right to assemble freely cannot be violated without violating the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and association. I agree with Mr. Falana that violation can only be done by the procedure permitted by law, under section 45 of the Constitution, in which case there must be a state of emergency properly declared before theses rights can be violated.

    I also agree with Mr. Falana that the criminal law is there to take care if protesters resort to violence in the course of demonstration and that once the rights are exercised peacefully, they cannot be taken away.

    The Public Order Act so far as it affects the right of citizens to assemble freely and associate with others, the sum of which is the right to hold rallies or processions or demonstration is an aberration to a democratic society. It is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. In particular, sections 1(2),(3),(4),(5) and (6), 2, 3 and 4 are inconsistent with the fundamental rights provisions in the 1999 Constitution and to the extent of their inconsistency, they are void. I hereby so declare.”

    After declaring the provisions of the Public Order Act which require police permit for public meetings and rallies illegal and unconstitutional the Federal High Court proceeded to grant the following reliefs:

    “1.  A declaration that the requirement of police permit or other authority for the holding of rallies or processions in Nigeria is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

    2. A declaration that the provisions of the Public Order Act (Cap 382) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 which require police permit or any other authority for the holding of rallies or processions in any part of Nigeria is illegal and unconstitutional as they contravene section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

    3. A declaration that the Defendant is not competent under the Public Order Act (Cap 382) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 or under any law whatever to issue or grant permit for the holding of rallies or processions in any part of Nigeria.

    4. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant (the Inspector-General of Police) whether by himself, his agents, privies and servants from further preventing the Plaintiffs and other aggrieved citizens of Nigeria from organizing or convening peaceful assemblies, meetings and rallies against unpopular government measures and policies.”

    Completely dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court on the issuance of police permit the Inspector-General of Police appealed to the Court of Appeal.

    Upon hearing the case the Justices of the Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court. With respect to the powers of governors to authorize the issuance of permit for holding public meetings and rallies in their states Olufunmilayo Adekeye JCA (as she then was) had this to say:

    “On a proper perusal of the provisions particularly section 1 subsection 1-6, and sections 2-4 there is no where the name of the Inspector General is mentioned in connection with the issuance of permit for the purpose of conducting peaceful public assemblies. Such application is to be forwarded to the Governor within forty-eight hours of holding such. The Governor may delegate his powers under the Act to the Commissioner of Police of the State or any superior police officer of a rank not below that of a Chief Superintendent of Police as applicable to this case in hand.”

    On the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to assemble freely and protest without licence or permit Adekeye JCA proceeded to hold as follows:

    “The power given to the Governor of a State to issue permit under Public Order Act cannot be used to attain unconstitutional result of deprivation or right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. The right to demonstrate and the right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done…Public Order Act should be promulgated to compliment sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution in context and not to stifle or cripple it. A rally or placard carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a tread recognized and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilized countries – it will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.” (See Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (2008) WRN 65).

    In his contribution to the judgment of the Court of Appeal Muhammad JCA confirmed that police permit is alien to a democratic society when he reiterated that:

    “In present day Nigeria, clearly police permit has outlived its usefulness. Certainly in a democracy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations without seeking and obtaining permission from anybody. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and any law that attempts to curtail such right is null and void and of no consequence.”

    In consigning police permit to the dustbin of history the Court of Appeal relied on the case of New Patriotic Party v. Inspector-General of Police, Accra (1992-1995) GBR 585 where the Supreme Court of Ghana observed that:

    “Statutes requiring such permits for peaceful demonstrations, processions and rallies are things of the past. Police permit is the brain child of the colonial era and ought not to remain in our statute books.”

    In line with the rule of law the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. M.D.Abubakar has directed all police officers to comply with the verdicts of boththe Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal by  recognizing thefundamental right of Nigerians to assemble freely and protest without harassment. Hence, in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct launched at Abuja on January 10, 2013 it is stated that police officers shall “maintain a neutral position with regard to the merits of any labour dispute, political protest, or other public demonstration while acting in an official capacity; not make endorsement of political candidates, while on duty, or in official uniform.”

    In view of the aforesaid judicial pronouncements on the fundamental right of Nigeria to protest peacefully without police permit which has been recognized by the Inspector-General of Police as espoused in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct we urge the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and other Police Commissioners to desist from cancelling or disrupting political meetings and rallies convened by Nigerians in exercise of their freedom of association and assembly.

    Incidentally, the Honourable Justice Adekeye J.S.C. (Rtd) who delivered the historic judgment of the Court of Appeal which confirmed the illegality of police permit is now a member of the Nigeria Police Service Commission.

    We have no doubt that the respected Justice will rightly advise the Nigeria Police Force to stop the illegal and contemptuous practice of insisting on the issuance of police permit for political meetings and rallies in Nigeria.

    Notwithstanding that the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to the issuance of permit for holding public meetings and processions have been struck down the Constitution has empowered governors to issued directives to commissioners of police with respect to public order and security in their respective states.

    This was confirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of Anambra State v. Attorney-General of the Federation. (2005) 9 NWLR (PT 931) 572 at 616 where Uwais CJN (as he then was) held that:

    “The Constitution in section 215 subsection (1) clearly gives the Governor of Anambra State the power to issue lawful direction to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, in connection with securing public safety and order in the State.”

    Following the aforesaid judgment of the Federal High Court the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration ensured that the protests organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress in 2005 against incessant hike in the prices of petroleum products were not disallowed by the police. In the same vein, the Acting President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan ensured that the rallies convened by the Save Nigeria Group in Lagos and Abuja in 2010 to protest the coup of the cabal that seized power when the Late President Umaru Yaradua was in a state of coma in a foreign hospital were not attacked by the Police.

    Since democracy admits of freedom of expression the holding of dissent, protests, marches, rallies and demonstrations the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression should not be enjoyed on the basis of the whims and caprices of the ruling class.

    In the light of the foregoing, it is submitted, without any fear of contradiction that the power to issue licence or permit for holding public meetings, assemblies and processions was never vested in Inspector-General of Police and Police Commissioners but in the State Governors. Police permit which is a relic of colonialism has been annulled on the ground of its inconsistency with the provisions of the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on freedom of assembly, association and expression. To that extent, the disruption of public meetings and rallies by the police and other security agencies ought to be resisted by Nigerians as it is illegal and contemptuous.

     

     

     

     

  • Insecurity : IBB rallies support for Fed Govt

    Insecurity : IBB rallies support for Fed Govt

    Former military President General Ibrahim Babangida has urged Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

    Speaking with reporters in his Minna, Niger State country home, yesterday, Babangida said Nigerians should not abidicate the role of tackling the security challenges to government. Rather, all hands must be on deck to finding solution to the problem.

    ‘’If we all come together, elite, the media, the ordinary people and the government by taking a common stand just as the people of Azare in Bauchi did to tackle their security challenges, insecurity will be brought to its bearest minimum,” the former president said, adding:.

    ‘’The problem did not start in one day but it was a gradual thing before it came to this level , owing to our negligence by the government, elite and the people but I cannot blame anyone..

    “Some 20 years ago, we did not have this problem. What was the state of things then? What have we forgotten that we have not done that led to the present challenges, this what we have look at.

    ‘’It is something that everyone should have a hand in solving the problem ensuring peace, stability in the country. Therefore, we should not leave to government alone.’’

    On the planned amnesty for Boko Haram, Gen. Babangida said he would reserve his comment until the Federal Government make public the terms of reference to the committee set up for the purpose.

    ‘’I do not know the terms of reference of the committee, therefore, I cannot speak about the plan, until the terms of reference have been released before commenting on the amnesty plan’’, he concluded.

    He, however, praised the Federal Government, saying “the move was part of measures to ensure that peace and stability return to the Nirthern region.