By Mark Lenu
The Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD) has asked the Nigerian State and its security agencies to allow the planned nationwide protest, slated for August 1.
The presidency had appealed to Nigerians not to embark on the planned protest, citing the experience of the EndSARS protest which the FG said was hijacked by miscreants to kill and destroy properties worth billions.
But in a statement released by the Chairman of DHRD, Clifford Christopher Solomon, the group threw its weight behind the planned protest, urging security agencies not to clamp down on the protesters.
The chairman said: “The Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD) is asking the Nigerian State and her security forces to shelve the planned clampdown on citizens, who will be trooping out in their millions on the 1st of August, 2024.to freely exercise their fundamental human rights which include holding a peaceful protest as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended.
“The protest tagged “END BAD GOVERNANCE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” is necessitated on the failure of the government to uphold the constitution it swore to protect lives and properties and to prioritize the welfare of citizens.
“In Nigeria, life has become unbearable as the economy is inflicting extreme poverty on citizens, and as a result, many are committing suicide due to hunger, starvation and lack of basic needs.
“DHRD is deeply worried why a country that is so rich but 90% of her citizens are living in abject poverty while the remaining percentage of her citizens are living extravagant life with taxpayer’s monies and the peoples’ resources.
“DHRD, therefore, demands that the government should immediately reverse her obnoxious and anti-people’s policies, and programmes and should rather fix the economy and overhaul the system.
“We equally ask the government to create jobs to engage millions of youths and revamp our constitutions for optimal functionality for the benefit of all.
“We wish to remind the government that no amount of intimidation will make Nigerians to surrender their rights to the oppressor.
“Futhermore, we call on the International Community to keep an eagle eye on the Nigerian state not to arrest, intimidate and clampdown on peaceful protesters for merely expressing their dissatisfaction.”
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