Nationwide protests: Unveil your identities, Emir Sanusi tells organisers
NHRC warns FG, states against counter protest
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday broke his silence, calling on organisers of the August 1 nationwide protests to unveil their identities.
The monarch made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting, which had in attendance the traditional, religious leaders and business communities convened by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on the planned protests at the Kano State government house.
Speaking, he said: “I am not against the protest but who are the organisers of the protest and what are their agendas? We need to know all these before joining the protest.”
The monarch charged the youths to desist from joining the protest, which he said could be taken advantage of by miscreants to cause destruction and loot properties.
Governor Yusuf invited the protesters to bring forward their demands or he will offer to come to them wherever they are to collect their demands, after which he will lead a delegation for onward conveyance to the President. “I will mobilise a special delegation from the state composed of traditional rulers, businessmen and Ulamas to deliver to President Bola Tinubu all your demands.
MEANWHILE, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has cautioned security agencies against violations of protesters’ rights in the planned nationwide hunger protest.
In an advisory opinion to the federal and state government and third parties issued pursuant to section 5 (1)(m)(o) of the National Human Rights Commission Act, the executive secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, called on law enforcement and security agencies to respect the right of the protesters, including the rights to peaceful assembly and to voice their opinions.
Ojukwu called on law enforcement and security agencies to provide and protect traffic routes to protesters and non-protesters to ensure the right to freedom of movement are enjoyed by all parties.
The executive secretary also called for the protection of public and private properties from protesters and counter protesters as well as ensuring a prompt , impartial and thorough investigation into any incident of human rights violations during the protests.
He called on the federal and state government to ensure that protests are not disrupted by opposing third parties, counter demonstrators or hostile forces. Ojukwu also called on protesters to be peaceful and avoid provocative action such as carrying arms, hate speeches, attacks on law enforcement and security agencies or looting of public and private properties.
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