Peter Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday says Nigerians have a right to protest as it is enshrined in the constitution.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with TheScrutiny, Esele said it is the responsibility of the Federal and State Governments to provide adequate security for the protesters so that the it is not hijacked and lives and properties are not destroyed.
“Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest and their rights to protest should be respected. It is enshrined in the constitution that they have the right to protest. Adequate security should be provided for the protesters. The protesters should endeavour to do all they can so that it doesn’t get out of hand. There shouldn’t be wanton destruction of properties”.
“It is the responsibility of the security agents to safeguard the protesters and also protect the property of the state and Nigerians in general”.
On threats by some government officials to the protesters, Esele said they are afraid that the protests may get out of hand or be hijacked by undemocratic elements.
“What the government officials are afraid of is the protest getting out of hand. But it is the responsibility of the governorship to provide security and make sure nothing goes out of hand. So, the government has a dual responsibility of protecting the protesters and also protect life and property”.
The former President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also cautioned the protesters not to allow politicians who were part of Nigeria’s problems to hijack the protest and use it to score cheap political points.
“My only concern is that politicians should not hijack the protest. I am hearing that some politicians who were part of the problems that we are facing right now have now turned activists and are trying to be at the forefront of the protest. They are trying to be clever by half”.
“So, the protesters should also be careful of these politicians, especially those who are participants of the hardship that we are facing in Nigeria. This hardship did not just come about in a year. What we are facing now is bad policies, not only of the current government but also of the past”
“Some of these politicians who want to be a part of the protest were also part of those bad policies of yesterday that is affecting Nigerians today. They will hijack the protest and want to be the face of it and that is not what we are looking for”.
