BBOG campaigners should be allowed to protest- Soyinka replies IGP
Fri Sep 09, 2016 07:53:am National
3.4K By Buchi Obichie
At a symposium to start the 20th anniversary programme of Halifield
Schools, Maryland, Lagos, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on
Thursday, warned against the use of force against
the#BringBackOurGirlscampaigners, saying that the group should be given
their space to protest.
Soyinka was reacting to a warning given by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to the BBOG campaigners on Wednesday, against continuing with their street processions, which he (Idris) said constituted a security threat to public peace and order.
The Nobel laureate noted that as long as the Chibok girls remained Boko Haram captives, protests by the group could not be too much.
In his keynote address, Soyinka added that peaceful demonstration was a democratic right which could not constitute threats to national security and public order.
Firing off his warning to the BBOG campaigners, IGP Idris had stated that the police "will not sit on the fence and watch such a scenario unfold."
But Soyinka noted that it would be dangerous to forget the missing Chibok girls, saying that it could boost their morale and teach pupils in the country the need to stand up for their rights.
He said, "I saw a report in a national daily that demonstrations on behalf of the Chibok girls pose a threat to national security and I thought, not again.
"My mind flew back immediately to another Governor under whose democratic leadership, parents were tear-gassed for demonstrating peacefully about losing their children in a plane crash in Port Harcourt.
"Democracy is not just about campaigning. It is exercising human rights. It is about helping to build the society. Demonstrations cannot be too much as long as those girls are missing. Demonstrations are an act of solidarity. Wherever they are today, when their mothers demonstrate on their behalf, their morale is raised.
"That is my message to security operatives who get scared of those who are agitating for a cause and fire tear gas at them.
"They must be treated with utmost respect and must be given their space. It is an act of solidarity for the children. Otherwise, when you stop these demonstrations, you are saying forget about the children.''
Urging the Federal Government and its agencies to speak with one voice, Soyinka also asked Nigerians to express solidarity with the missing girls and their families.
"We have important things like reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, among others, to worry about. Yes, those things are important but ultimately, the society is for humanity and when one of us is hurt, we must allow ourselves to protest.
"I hope we don't get the negative effects when they bring back our girls. And when we talk about democracy to our children, it is to teach them their rights. Therefore, there has to be greater coherence from the government and its agencies.
"We don't have to know one single individual among the girls. We should demonstrate democratic responsibility.
"Let us continue to recognise solidarity with these girls and one day, they will come back or we will get to know what has become of them," he said.
Soyinka was reacting to a warning given by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to the BBOG campaigners on Wednesday, against continuing with their street processions, which he (Idris) said constituted a security threat to public peace and order.
The Nobel laureate noted that as long as the Chibok girls remained Boko Haram captives, protests by the group could not be too much.
In his keynote address, Soyinka added that peaceful demonstration was a democratic right which could not constitute threats to national security and public order.
Firing off his warning to the BBOG campaigners, IGP Idris had stated that the police "will not sit on the fence and watch such a scenario unfold."
But Soyinka noted that it would be dangerous to forget the missing Chibok girls, saying that it could boost their morale and teach pupils in the country the need to stand up for their rights.
He said, "I saw a report in a national daily that demonstrations on behalf of the Chibok girls pose a threat to national security and I thought, not again.
"My mind flew back immediately to another Governor under whose democratic leadership, parents were tear-gassed for demonstrating peacefully about losing their children in a plane crash in Port Harcourt.
"Democracy is not just about campaigning. It is exercising human rights. It is about helping to build the society. Demonstrations cannot be too much as long as those girls are missing. Demonstrations are an act of solidarity. Wherever they are today, when their mothers demonstrate on their behalf, their morale is raised.
"That is my message to security operatives who get scared of those who are agitating for a cause and fire tear gas at them.
"They must be treated with utmost respect and must be given their space. It is an act of solidarity for the children. Otherwise, when you stop these demonstrations, you are saying forget about the children.''
Urging the Federal Government and its agencies to speak with one voice, Soyinka also asked Nigerians to express solidarity with the missing girls and their families.
"We have important things like reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, among others, to worry about. Yes, those things are important but ultimately, the society is for humanity and when one of us is hurt, we must allow ourselves to protest.
"I hope we don't get the negative effects when they bring back our girls. And when we talk about democracy to our children, it is to teach them their rights. Therefore, there has to be greater coherence from the government and its agencies.
"We don't have to know one single individual among the girls. We should demonstrate democratic responsibility.
"Let us continue to recognise solidarity with these girls and one day, they will come back or we will get to know what has become of them," he said.
Related News
Leave a comment...