The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has expressed concern over threats and heavy-handed responses to planned nationwide protests in Nigeria. The think tank is urging the Nigerian government to uphold citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director of CDD-West Africa, in a statement released on Tuesday, stated, “Every democratic state must have mechanisms to receive criticism or complaints from its citizens. Peaceful protests are crucial in ensuring that the government is aware of citizens’ significant concerns about the country.”
The CDD emphasized that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic principle and a legitimate way for citizens to express dissent, voice concerns, and advocate for change.
Dr. Garuba noted, “In an ideal democratic setting, the voices of the people should be heard, and their grievances must be subsequently addressed,.
“It is disheartening to see many leaders seeking to further shrink the civic space by calling on young Nigerians not to make their voices heard,
“This approach of demonizing protests undermines the constitutionally-guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and could lead to increased civic disengagement and citizen apathy.
The CDD called on protest organizers to ensure their demonstrations are well-planned and coordinated. The think tank also urged security agencies to provide safe support for protesters and help prevent potential disruptive elements from turning peaceful protests into vehicles for violence.
“CDD reaffirms its readiness to provide the necessary platforms to foster dialogue and robust citizen participation. We hope that with the right interventions, this difficult period will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.
