- He criticized the practice of mobilizing traditional rulers and emergency organizations to oppose protests
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the government to stop mobilizing youths to disrupt rallies and to engage with demonstrators expressing their grievances.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, Falana emphasized the need for the government to engage genuinely aggrieved citizens to foster a sense of belonging. He criticized the practice of mobilizing traditional rulers and emergency organizations to oppose protests.
Protesters across Nigeria, including in the FCT, have taken to the streets to voice their frustrations over rising poverty and the high cost of living, demanding better economic conditions.
Falana also criticized the Lagos and Ogun state governments, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), for swiftly obtaining court orders that restrict protesters to designated areas. These orders, issued just 24 hours before the protests, likely left insufficient time for proper service to the demonstrators, contributing to their movement beyond the restricted zones. The designated areas include the Freedom and Peace Parks in Lagos, the MKO National Stadium in the FCT, and various sites in Ogun State.