Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has called for the immediate release of all protesters detained during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow peaceful rally in Abuja.
The elder statesman condemned in strong terms the conduct of some security personnel who fired teargas canisters at peaceful demonstrators.
Wabara also criticised the alleged assault on a journalist covering the event, whose camera was reportedly destroyed by some overzealous security officers.
Describing the intimidation and arrest of peaceful protesters as “a serious dent on Nigeria’s global image”, Senator Wabara urged President Ahmed Tinubu to caution the security agencies.
According to the former Senate President, the arrest of Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and his lawyer, Chief Aloy Ejimakor, among others, would only worsen the already tense atmosphere in the South East.
Senator Wabara maintained that “it is the fundamental right of citizens to hold peaceful protest”, stressing that the police have a duty to protect demonstrators rather than suppress them.
Referring to the ongoing ‘No King Protest’ involving about 7 million people in the United States of America, “where there are no incidents of molestation or brutality”, Senator Wabara urged Nigerian security operatives to emulate their American counterparts.
The former Senate President accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government, which he said “is a product of protests”, of using intimidation and force against dissenting voices.
He queried: Why is the APC that came to power through protests suddenly scared of protests? Muzzling dissenting voices and that opposition is a prelude to dictatorship. This is certainly not the democracy we yearned for!
“The scars of #EndSARS will always remain a sad memorial for the APC which exploited propaganda and protests to oust the PDP in 2015”, Wabara added.
Senator Wabara, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lamented that “Nigeria under the watch of the APC, is fast sliding into dictatorship”.
He appealed to President Tinubu to, as a father of the nation, heed the growing calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s release “to reduce tension and restore peace in the South East region.”
According to him, if the President could pardon certain convicted criminals and fraudsters, there should be no objection to extending similar clemency to Nnamdi Kanu.
Senator Wabara further argued that the continuous release of repentant terrorists and negotiations with armed bandits have made Kanu’s unconditional freedom even more justifiable.
He advised President Tinubu to engage with the protesters and seek a political solution to the Kanu issue rather than keeping him detained indefinitely.
Senator Wabara, who had earlier expressed support for the demonstration, praised the protesters for maintaining peace despite provocations and urged them to remain law-abiding.
He particularly commended human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and other protest leaders for their courage in standing against injustice.
The former Senate President called on Nigerians to unite against open injustice, disregard for the rule of law, and the recklessness of those in power, stressing that every part of the country deserves fair and equal treatment.
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