I write this letter to you as a brother, a common man, and a youth who is also disturbed about what has become the order of the day in our dear country for decades.
It is disheartening to note that, a country that is blessed with natural and human resources is ebbing unabatedly.
I see no wrong in any attempt from the teeming youths to call the government to order if it is not performing to expectation through legal means.
Democratically, it is fundamental for citizens to ventilate their dismay without fear of retribution over any government action or inaction. For example, section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guarantees freedom of assembly and association.
Again, there are vivid articulations in the International Treaties that guaranteed the right to protest. For instance, articles nine(9) to eleven(11) of the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950; the articles eighteen (18) to nineteen (19) of an International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966.
However, these rights are not absolute. While there is a right to peaceful protest, there is a limit as well. For example, the letter of the treaties cited above, states the prohibition of “Propaganda of war and the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred” and when necessary it restricts the freedom of assembly. When national security is threatened, the said section would be theoretical.
In response to your demand, the federal government, on October 11th, announced the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) yet you remained adamant and continued. This made people to ask what else do they want?
From the look of things, someone may say, some evil souls joined you wearing the “peaceful protest” garments and geared it toward violating the state laws for their selfish interests. For there is nothing peaceful in stealing or destroying someone’s property in the name of protest.
And I tell you, the hidden agenda, which people suspect of those that are trying to hijack the protest is not attainable. We have no other country than Nigeria. The better tomorrow we were dreaming of wouldn’t come if we don’t lower down the flag of unrest. Let us not be encouraged or sponsored by some devils among us that means no good for this country. For they have somewhere to hide when unrest rules the country. We are still to suffer when this country sinks into chaos. Let us not stab ourselves with the knives that are meant for cutting our birthday cakes. Let us not open a door that will be an entrance to a win that will blow off our structures.
Muhammad Rabiu Jibrin(Mr.J), Gombe.
