Defy

There may be a showdown between the security forces and the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters today (Monday) following plans by the organisers to march on the Presidential Villa to pressure the government to release from custody Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. This is even as a Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining the organisers from protesting near the Villa, the National Assembly, and other key government institutions. Despite the judicial hurdle, the organisers remain defiant, vowing to stick to their original plan of a peaceful convergence in the Federal Capital Territory and a march to Aso Rock Villa. The Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, affirmed that the protest would go on as scheduled, both in Abuja and simultaneously in the South-Eastern states of the country. The nationwide demonstration for the immediate and unconditional release of the IPOB leader was endorsed by the opposition parties. Kanu is being detained on charges of terrorism, treason, and incitement, among others. The Federal Government alleges he advocated for Biafra’s independence through controversial means, including inflammatory rhetoric on social media and Radio Biafra. IPOB was declared a terrorist organisation in 2017. Kanu fled Nigeria in 2017 while on bail, leading to his re-arrest in Kenya in 2021. His extradition from Kenya sparked controversy and legal debates. Many argue Kanu’s detention is political persecution, while others see it as lawful prosecution. Kanu’s health condition has been a point of contention, but a recent medical evaluation declared him fit for trial. The Federal Government is apprehensive over the rally, particularly with its scheduled date coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the October 2020 #EndSARS protest that culminated in the alleged Lekki massacre. Asked if the protesters would take their grievance to the seat of power as planned, Adenola said, “Nothing shall discourage us! Marching peacefully anywhere in the country is our constitutionally guaranteed right. Nothing can derogate it,” Adenola stated. “There is no going back on our resolve to fight this inhumane, illegal and strongman act scripted to promote the erosion of our rights, and the capture of whatever remains of our criminal justice system.” The plan of the organisers to march on the Presidential Villa directly contravenes an interim injunction granted by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The order, issued on Friday, followed an ex parte application filed by the Nigeria Police Force on behalf of the Federal Government. The ruling explicitly restrained the organisers, led by a human rights activist and former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, from protesting in or around sensitive government locations. These areas include the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly Complex, the Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way. The order is to remain in effect pending the hearing of the substantive motion scheduled for today. Counsel to the organisers, Maxwell Opara, acknowledged reports of the suit, but stated on Sunday that no such order had been served on them. He maintained that the march to the seat of government was necessary to enable citizens to communicate directly with their leaders, insisting that even the Presidential Villa should be a symbolic place for the free expression of grievances. He added that the organisers had notified the police of the protest, stressing that his clients had yet to be served the court order. “We have notified them, and they will come and provide security — that’s what they are expected to do. We don’t want miscreants to take advantage of the protest. I learnt that they went to court, but we have not seen the order. They are asking the court to stop the protesters from going to the Villa or the National Assembly.” Addressing allegations of an unconfirmed plot by the police to clamp down on protesters made by Sowore, Adenola placed the responsibility for maintaining peace squarely on the security forces. “The truth is that protesters are always coordinated in this country; it is the police who usually disrupt this peace,” he argued. “The police are the ones who should ensure that they don’t provoke protesters. They should abide by the laws and rather protect protesters.” He further confirmed that the organisers had deployed a “large number of lawyers on standby” to assist protesters who might be arrested or detained. Sowore disclosed to The PUNCH on Sunday that more than 115 lawyers, medical personnel and journalists have been mobilised to support the nationwide protests. He said the mobilisation for the rally had gained strong national traction, with activities extending to marketplaces, religious centres, and high-profile engagements, including meetings with former President Goodluck Jonathan and diaspora groups. “Mobilisation is very strong, national mobilisation that took us to marketplaces, religious centres, and high-profile meetings, including with former President Goodluck Jonathan and diaspora interests, multiple state teams activated, people flying in, and many local convergences already organised. “The legal team (115 lawyers), medics, and media teams are in place. Expect a large, disciplined turnout in Abuja and coordinated actions in multiple states and Nigerian embassies, “ he said. Meanwhile, the protest has received significant public backing, as well as the support of major opposition figures, turning the demonstration into one of the most politically symbolic since the inception of the current administration. The nationwide march had been publicly endorsed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, both of whom have urged the Federal Government to embrace dialogue over the continued detention of Kanu. Obi reiterated that there was “no need for Kanu’s arrest in the first place,” emphasising that negotiation remains the only sustainable path to resolving separatist agitations. “I will consult, negotiate, and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there,” he asserted, commending the efforts of Sowore and other advocates. The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, reaffirmed Obi’s dedication to fairness and equity … Read more