Rival protests at NASS

Two opposing groups of demonstrators jostled side by side in front of the National Assembly Complex last week, each loudly proclaiming its demands. Hundreds of youth activists under the aegis of Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS), with the online hash tag #OccupyNASS, converged at the Assembly calling on Senate President Bukola Saraki to […]

Two opposing groups of demonstrators jostled side by side in front of the National Assembly Complex last week, each loudly proclaiming its demands. Hundreds of youth activists under the aegis of Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS), with the online hash tag #OccupyNASS, converged at the Assembly calling on Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign. Saraki is facing charges of false assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). At the same time another group with the hash tag #Sarakimuststay was also at the Assembly complex to drum up support for Saraki.
Members of the #OccupyNASS group, drawn from different civil society groups at home and abroad, had first assembled at Unity Fountain in the Central Business District of Abuja before marching on to the National Assembly to begin their three-day sit-in.  Apart from calling on Saraki to resign, CUPS wanted lawmakers to return the Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs recently purchased for them at the cost of over N36 million each. They also seek immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill as well as a reversal of all constituency projects proposed in the 2016 budget.
The #OccupyNASS protesters carried placards with such inscriptions as: “If our leaders won’t stand against corruption, we will find new ones to replace them” while those backing the Senate president had placards some of which read “Presidency, stop harassing Saraki.” Social media platform Twitter was awash with images of the protesters who blocked the main gate of the National Assembly complex, having been locked out of the premises by security agents. They disrupted business and traffic in and around the Federal Secretariat and the National Assembly.
Each group claimed that the other one was hired. CUPS then pledged to publish details of funds contributed by Nigerians for the protest and how the monies were spent. The group said it raised N2.58 million from Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora for the 3-day sit-in. CUPS also denied that the protest was against Saraki, saying the Senate President was merely a symptom of a dysfunctional legislature.
We commend security agents for their restraint in handling the protesters, especially by not harassing and intimidating them. Citizens have a right to protest on whatever issue but as we develop on these rights, it is important that we should conduct them within the bounds of decency and peaceful assembly. It was not a good idea to obstruct the free flow of traffic into the National Assembly. The most important think was for the demonstrators to make their point, attract publicity and attention and then disperse peacefully. This is especially necessary given our precarious security situation and the danger that less well meaning persons could hijack any demonstration for their own nefarious ends.
Given the likelihood that the frequency of such demonstrations could increase, authorities of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] may wish to designate a place akin to London’s Hyde Park, known globally as the centre of free speech, where members of the public take liberty to rile at unpopular government policies. This will promote a healthy culture of free speech and peaceful protest and reduce the dangers of hoodlums hijacking a protest march. We will not say much about the allegation by the two groups that the other side was sponsored. Sadly, there is in this country a huge reservoir of unemployed youths waiting to be hired for campaign rallies and for demonstrations like these but there also committed activists who are there because they feel strongly about the issues at hand.
Hired or not, everyone should be given a hearing but every demonstrator should also conduct himself or herself peacefully and within the bounds of decency. That is the only way that the culture of demonstration will add to the country’s unfolding democratic experiment.