Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana has warned Nigerians not to use Russian flags in demonstrations because that’s an abuse of their constitutional right to demonstration and freedom.
He said while addressing reporters on Monday, that Nigerians should distance themselves from anything that will jeopardize the protest.
He said the protest is against hunger, insecurity, and hardship, so anything outside of that will derail Nigerians from the right objective.
“Accordingly, the right to protest is required to be exercised peacefully within the ambit of the law.
“Hence, section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 has imposed a duty on the Nigeria Police Force to provide adequate security for citizens who may wish to participate in public meetings, rallies, and protests. In many parts of the country, the Police provided adequate security for the #endbadgovernance protesters, and in some cases, professionalism was glaringly on display.
“Having won the legal battle for the Nigerian people to exercise their constitutional right to protest against unpopular policies of the Government, I have supported the constitutional right from all walks of life to exercise the right to protest.
“While we have supported the right of the #endbadgovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from the undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for another military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country that is noted for supporting unconstitutional change of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an unconstitutional change of government.”
He admonishes the president to review the neoliberal policies causing hunger and hardship for the people.
