Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is allergic to accountability and fearful of citizens’ voices.
Naijaonpoint reports that Ezekwesili, in a post on X titled ‘A Memo To Nigerians: A Call to Collective Voice on the Shrinking Civic Space and Erosion of Citizens’ Rights in Nigeria’, accused Tinubu’s government of stifling civic freedoms and eroding citizens’ rights.
The former minister also urged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to publicly apologise to EiE Nigeria’s Executive Director, Yemi Adamolekun, and another activist, Ms Nafziger.
According to Ezekwesili, the latest wave of action against citizens by the state security agencies reflects a deeply troubling trend of shrinking civic space and state intolerance of dissent.
Ezekwesili cited three “disturbing cases,” including the harassment of Adamolekun during a peaceful memorial for #EndSARS victims, the police clampdown on protesters supporting Nnamdi Kanu, and the repeated arrest of Sowore despite a valid court order granting him bail.
She urged Nigerians to rise in defence of their democratic rights, stressing that sovereignty belongs to the people and not to government officials.
She wrote, “All rational Nigerians should collectively demand that @NGRPresident who supervises the @PoliceNG immediately directs the IGP and his team to unconditionally release Mr Sowore and his colleague-protesters while @followlasg’s @jidesanwoolu publicly apologizes to Ms Adamolekun and Ms Nafziger.
“The latest wave of actions against citizens by state security agencies reflects a deeply troubling trend – the steady shrinking of the civic space and the erosion of citizens’ fundamental rights in our democracy.
“It is disheartening that Nigerians who seek to peacefully express their views, commemorate national tragedies, or demand justice are now being treated as threats to the State rather than as citizens exercising constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
“Three Disturbing Cases: 1. @EiENigeria ‘s Yemi Adamolekun’s Harassment for Peaceful Memorial.On the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests- a moment meant for sober reflection and remembrance – Yemi Adamolekun, a respected civic leader, was publicly harassed and assaulted by police officers simply for laying flowers in honour of victims of police brutality. This act of intimidation dishonours the memory of those who lost their lives and portrays the imperviousness of the government to the public demand for reform of the @PoliceNG.
“2.Police Actions Against Protesters on Nnamdi Kanu Matter: Peaceful protesters led by @YeleSowore were tear-gassed, brutalized, and arrested even after getting a court clearance for their protest. The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy. Any suppression corrodes trust in state institutions and deepens alienation among citizens.
“3.The Arrest and Rearrest of Omoyele Sowore : The repeated arrests of activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore even after being granted bail by a competent court are indicative of executive overreach and disdain for judicial authority. When court orders are ignored, and dissenters are repeatedly detained, the rule of law itself is in jeopardy.
“Together, these 3 incidents reflect an unmistakable dangerous pattern. It is clear that @officialABAT is running a @NigeriaGov and security apparatus that are increasingly intolerant of dissent, allergic to accountability, and fearful of citizens’ voices.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive on the silencing of conscience. Every act of repression against one citizen diminishes the liberty of all.”
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