Women group joins #EndBadGovernance protest, set up situation room

Womanifesto, a body of over 300 women’s rights activists, advocates, and organisations, has said that it will join the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria.

The group, in a statement by its convener, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, demands accountability and good governance devoid of harassment and intimidation as a right it intends to exercise during the protest.

They said that as working professionals, thought leaders, human rights advocates, and mothers, “we identify with the suffering of Nigerians fueled by high inflation, low purchasing power, high cost of electricity and fuel as well as wasteful spending by governments at federal, state, and local government levels. Nigerians are tired, hungry, and disgruntled.

“It is disheartening that several government officials, state, and non-state actors have made numerous attempts to label this protest as a coup, treason, or insurrection. The propaganda is loud, deliberately provoking and incongruous.”

Akiyode-Afolabi pointed out that across the world, civil liberty and the right to gather are protected by law; and the same applies in Nigeria and therefore reject all spoken or insinuated attempts to bully Nigerians into silence. Such oppressive antics will be firmly resisted by Nigerians.

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Part of the communiqué reads, “Womanifesto has watched with dismay attempts by various elements to misrepresent the history and facts about the 2020 ENDSARS protest led by the Nigerian youth.

“It is the truth that following prolonged assault, harassment, and killings by security agents especially from the Nigerian police, youths rose up to protest. The protest is documented as being largely peaceful across the country until the infiltration of thugs and criminals, most of whom are believed to be politically sponsored.”

The group alleges that recent comments by pro-government supporters are a move to provoke their supporters to harass the #EndBadGovernance protesters.

“We have also read of threats by state and non-state actors to attack protesters and fulfil their own prophecy of doom. We call on the police to swing into action and call these persons to order.”

“Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), lawyers, and human rights advocates under Womanifesto stand with the Nigerian people’s constitutional right to gather without fear of harassment.

“We demand that the Nigerian police protect peaceful protesters across the country. Commendably, the Nigerian police as well as the State Security Service have announced that threats to peace have been identified,” the group insists.

She said that the looting and destruction that followed the #EndSars protest is also directly linked to the revelations that government personnel, institutions, and traditional leaders hoarded food relief or palliatives meant for their communities.

They also warned that attempts to minimise the pains of Nigerians and their desire and right to display grievances through protests will be resisted by Womanifesto.

“We anticipate that these identified threats will be prevented from attacking Nigerians during the #EndBadGovernance protest. This is the duty of the police to Nigerians,” it concludes.

Meanwhile, the group said it has set up a situation room to record and report the protests across all states. Our team of lawyers will also be on standby to take cases of intimidation of citizens. We will announce hotlines.

“Womanifesto will therefore open a Situation Room to record and report the protests across all states. Our team of lawyers will also be on standby to take cases of intimidation of citizens. We will announce hotlines which citizens can call if distressed.

“These hotlines will be open 24 hours from August 1st when the ##EndBadGovernance protest will begin. We will also take live reports from citizens via our social media pages of Womanifesto secretariat. Meanwhile, our social media handles Instagram- @womenadvocate, X(Twitter)- @womenadvocate, Facebook- Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), remain active.“

The group explained that it is sending a notification to the Nigerian military to stay off civil matters such as protests to avoid a repeat of 2020, when the police and military killed our children, sisters, and brothers. The President, state governors, and the Nigerian security apparatus, especially the Nigeria police, will be held responsible for any single injury or loss incurred during this protest.