A pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has said the police lack the powers to stop peaceful protests in a democracy.

It described the statement by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu that those planning nationwide street protests termed “Revolution” will be charged for treasonable felony, as a product of “crass hypocrisy.”

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who spoke on behalf of the group, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent, in Abuja, on Sunday.

He said it was obvious that the police boss was yet to come to terms with the reality that Nigeria was now a democracy and that peaceful protest by citizens was an integral part of the democratic culture.

HURIWA accused the IGP of being “power drunk” and also behaving as if the country was still under the “Abacha type” military tyranny.



Onwubiko said, “This group has therefore told the police chief that civil protests can never be misconstrued as an attempt at change of government since there are a plethora of Constitutional provisions that recognise the people as the owners of the sovereignty of Nigeria, who donate to political office holders the authority and legitimacy through a democratic process and that the people have the inalienable right to also demand that good governance be institutionalised and to demand the resignation of a bad government.

“Demanding the resignation of a government that has no political will to stop the killings by armed Fulani herdsmen only because the President shares ethno- religious affiliations with the alleged killers; can never be termed as an attempt to unseat the government.

“Civil protests are essential elements of civil rule. Without the right to public protests then there is no constitutional democracy.”

The Rights group said neither the police boss nor officers or men acting on his behalf had the constitutional backing to infringe on the rights of citizens to express themselves in a civil and peaceful manner through demonstrations.

According to him, only a court of competent jurisdiction was empowered by the constitution to commit a citizen to imprisonment on lawful charges brought before it through a competent process over a crime for which such a person would have been afforded the right to legal representation and fair hearing in compliance with section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Speaking on the arrest and detention of Omoyele Soweore by the Department of State Services, Onwubiko said, the planned protests of the coalition coordinated by the now incarcerated online publisher; political activist and civil rights campaigner, Mr. Omowore Sowore, does not in any way amount to any attempt at regime change.


Source: https://www.gistkit.com/naija-news/police-lack-powers-to-stop-peaceful-protests-huriwa/

There is a serious protest over here.......











Police should come to our rescue









Location: in my room








Guy stay away from trouble ooo.who protest help?

Emancipation of the mind of the masses is the beginning of having total freedom from the power that be. All Nigerians must join hand to break the Shackle of oppression and slavery being mount on us by the elitist of our society.

This is the time for all Nigerians to open their eyes to how the world works. Open your mind, be strong and fight for your right to survive and excel in this country.

Black men, it's time you wake up and take over what rightfully belongs to you. Freedom of the black man from the elitist is the most important things for all Nigerians to work on right now.

They can't even stop a violent one..We are fighting for them too..Are they not tired of collecting 20naira from bus drivers? We need total reform in all our institutions...Nothing can stop Niherians.. nothing.

sadly even the nigerian populace are not ready for a change...

you see a post about lives lost and people abducted you see 100 comments, while you see a post about bambam proposing to a girl and you see 2000 comments ...

it only goes to show where our priorities lie... we are not ready for the change we seek.

Shit about to hit the fan, run for cover.
I'm happy I didn't vote for this unrepetant coupist in 2014 and 2018.
I'd not have forgiven myself

Revolution and Protest are two different words oo

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We will wait and see how true this is......

Tell the tyrant

#RevolutionNow...
#SayNoToBadGovernace...

Ok

It might be a peaceful protest o! But, the term "revolution" has made it seem like a treasonable act in the eyes of the government. But, who's fault is it?

The truth.

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Tell the certificateless dullard of Daura that we love revolution.
The Evil of BuhariApC must be addressed frontally

But they dont lack the power to arrest you for public disturbance.

They also dont lack the power to stop "revolutions"

Please rejoice and show me love Cox today is my birthday

Oh god help your people

Get a friend that informs you when bitcion rises.. Massive cash out in a jiffy

As a police officer, u civilians better not come out today or else...

I don plan teargas at least 100 protesters and the way i go beat some today enh! Una go think say naa you steal Nigeria budget nii

by the time I'm done with you

Issoke

merits:
There is a serious protest over here.......











Police should come to our rescue









Location: in my room








Guy stay away from trouble ooo.who protest help?

You must be one of those criminals that depends on illegality to make a living.. If you can't do the right thing, don't incite others to follow your footsteps. Nigeria need real change and only we can make that happen. If you won't join the protest, then keep your mouth shut don't discourage sensible people

Why is Almighty Federal Govt panic like this

eendy:
sadly even the nigerian populace are not ready for a change...

you see a post about lives lost and people abducted you see 100 messages, while you see a post about bambam proposing to a girl and you see 2000 messages ...

it only goes to show where our priorities lie... we are not ready for the change we seek.

Messages' ...'comments' you mean.

Its sad.

Citizens focus more on gratification

Well change is not necessarily brought about by the majority but by a very determined minority.

Take the founding fathers of American democracy for example who were just 56 in number and already distinguished leaders in their respective jurisdictions.

b