A renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr Ngozi Olehi has advised the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria to be cautious concerning how suppression of dissenting views and protests are carried out by relevant security agents particularly as the Federal Government angles for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
Addressing journalists in Owerri, Imo State, Barr. Olehi, SAN said that crude suppression of demonstrations and protests severely weakens democracy by eroding public trust, hindering the development of an engaged citizenry, and suppressing legitimate grievances that could lead to positive change adding that by using high-handedness and uncivil tactics such as intimidation, excessive force, and unjust legal actions, the government sends a message of intolerance and fails to engage with citizens, undermining the rule of law and promoting an environment where dissent is met with retribution.
He contended that clampdown of peaceful protests violates constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of assembly and expression, showing a lack of respect for the rule of law pointing out that protests are vital tool for citizens to participate in public affairs, share views, and hold leaders accountable and suppressing them denies this essential function and prevents the development of a more informed and engaged populace.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria contended that peaceful demonstrations allow citizens to voice concerns on issues like economic hardship, corruption, police brutality, official gangsterism and suppressing these protests means grievances would go unheard, which can lead to frustrations and potential violent unrest adding in his words: “clampdown of demonstrations particularly in a most vicious and uncivil manner is neither a democratic assert nor political virtue.”
Barr. Olehi, SAN insisted that the Governments must be mindful of actions that could lead to further diminution of Nigeria’s already fragile democratic values particularly when the Federal Government has called for reforms of the United Nations to make Nigeria a permanent member of the Security Council.
He said that Nigeria is eminently qualified for such enviable position but regretted that extremely poor governance standards, vanishing democratic principles, flagrant violations of fundamental rights and inexcusable abuses of the rule of law, unstable economy and debilitating political culture place smaller African countries who have strong economies and understandable political stability ahead of Nigeria in the bid.
He added that intimidation, arrests, and violence create a climate of fear where citizens are afraid to speak out, which is antithetical to a vibrant democracy adding that there is a strong positive link between democracy and economic development, with democracies often having higher economic growth and human capital.
Barr. Olehi, SAN argued that any political system that cannot promote development by enabling public participation in policy, ensuring accountability, improving public services like education and healthcare through responsive governance, and fostering economic freedom cannot be described as democracy and lamented that Nigeria’s performances in global development rankings are extremely disappointing and worrisome.
