Falana Warns Against Calling For Military Coup Or Waving Russian Flag

Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights lawyer, has given a harsh warning to Nigerian youths protesting hunger, hardship, and socioeconomic policies to avoid doing actions that could jeopardise the objectives of their demonstrations.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Falana emphasised the need of keeping the protests peaceful and distanced themselves from undemocratic forces that have used them to instigate violence or agitate for a military coup.

Falana decried the behaviour of protestors waving Russian flags, calling it a violation of constitutional rights. His comments are in response to violent rallies in Northern Nigeria, where people were spotted carrying Russian flags and screaming “Tinubu must go.”

“The right to protest is required to be exercised peacefully within the ambit of the law,” Falana stated.

He referred to Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which requires the Nigeria Police Force to provide security for public meetings, marches, and protests.

Falana noted that the police provided enough security and demonstrated professionalism during the #EndBadGovernance marches.

Falana emphasised his support for the constitutional right to protest, but also underscored the importance of protestors distancing themselves from those calling for unconstitutional activities.

He emphasised that calling for a military coup or flying the Russian flag during protests is a flagrant violation of the freedom to protest against the Nigerian government.

“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for unconstitutional change of government,” he asserted.

Falana cautioned that anybody engaging in illicit campaigns for military control could face treason charges under Section 41 of the Criminal Code. He continued by calling the Bola Tinubu administration to review policies that contribute to poverty and misery, making any type of unconstitutional change of government unappealing to the Nigerian people.

The statement read; “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 unconstitutional change of government.

“Therefore, those who are involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule are advised to stop it forthwith. Otherwise, they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.

“In order to make any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive to the people of Nigeria, the Bola Tinubu administration ought to review the neoliberal policies that are promoting poverty and hardship in the land.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli