Legal practitioner, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, has condemned the arrest of members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by the Police, saying it has further proven the dictatorship of the current government.
Adegboruwa, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, lamented that for daring to declare and mobilize for a Sit at Home protest, pro-Biafra activists “have fallen victims of the Gen Buhari/Osinbajo administration”.
He noted that true to its threat, the police have arrested many Biafra activists and it is threatening to arrest many more, ahead of the May 30 Sit at Home protest.
Adegboruwa, however, insisted that the right to self determination is guaranteed under Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
He said it is also recognized by the United Nations and consequently, no race, people or tribe, can be conquered or be forced to dwell in any entity against their wish.
The lawyer quoted the Article 20 of African Charter that: “All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.
“Colonized or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community.
“All peoples shall have the right to the assistance of the State Parties to the present Charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic or cultural.”
Continuing, his statement noted that Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, “as a teacher and practitioner of law, knows this very well and it is totally disheartening that free born citizens of Nigeria are being silenced, intimidated, harassed and railroaded into unlawful custody under his watch”.
“I therefore urge the Vice-President to direct the release of all pro-Biafra activists, who have been arrested on account of a protest that is yet to even happen. How can anyone be arrested for freely expressing his views and opinions, in a democracy?
“And this is coming barely a day to May 29, for which the same government has declared a public holiday to celebrate democracy, in a country where citizens cannot enjoy their basic rights. Enough of civilian dictatorship please”.
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