A youth group, the New Generation Leadership, NGL, has called on General Muhammad Buhari to obey the key tenets of democracy which include respect for the rule of law, judicial independence, due process, as well as political and media freedom.
The advice was contained in a statement released by the Secretary of the group, Mr Adedayo Adegbayibi while reacting to present happenings in Nigeria and the recent protest of Punch Newspaper to always refer to Buhari as a General in a military regime and not as President in a democracy.
The New Generation Leadership said “General Buhari should be worried that some sections of the Country and the international communities were scoring his regime low and thus should refrain from actions that could further turn the Country into a laughing stock in the Comity of Democratic Nations.
It noted that it was a shame for the Nigerian government to be referred to as a military dictator in a democracy.
According to the NGL, the number one citizen should be responsible to the people, thus “the New Generation Leadership is openly condemning this regime’s actions and assaults on the courts, disobedience of court orders, arbitrary detention of citizens and violation of rights.”
The Youth Group said “the attack on citizens, the press, the courts and civic society , including self-determination groups lawfully exercising their inalienable rights to peaceful dissent are not in tandem with democratic norms, as citizens are supposed to enjoy unfettered freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and the rule of law, including the freedom to speak freely and assemble peacefully.”
The statement reads that “It is disheartening to note that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim el-Zakzakky and his wife have spent over three years in detention in violation of court orders granting them bail and ordering their release.”
” Also, a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has been held in detention since 2015 in defiance of several court orders, including one by the ECOWAS appellate court that declared his continued incarceration illegal.”
“Sowore’s case was not different having ignored court orders granting him bail. The SSS, after much pressure following 125 days in captivity, released him only to stage a GESTAPO-style raid on the court where the journalist was standing trial.”
The New Generation Leadership stated that “Under Buhari, the SSS has become a monstrous and repressive secret police, acting often with impunity. Noting that the unruliness of the SSS and the government is a reflection of the serial disregard of the Buhari regime for human rights and its battering of other arms of government and the Nation’s democratic institutions”.
It noted that the SSS is not alone, as the Nigeria Police, whose notoriety predates Buhari’s second coming, has continued its serial abuse of human rights and is ever available to officials who routinely deploy police officers to arbitrary arrest and torture victims.
The Secretary of the group, Mr Adedayo Adegbayibi advised the security agencies to understand that peaceful agitation and the right to associate are fundamental rights of the citizens.
He noted that General Buhari bears responsibility for the state of repression and can still redeem himself and his out-of-control security agents to reclaim his past facade of tolerance by ordering the release of all victims of illegal detention and save the Nation from the present lawlessness and impunity.
According to him, “the SSS has not been efficient in the war against terror; it should perform its primary duty to safeguard the Country, while its loyalty should be to Nigeria and not to temporary occupiers of public office”
The NGL which decried the Regime’s disobedience to the rule of law said the Punch Newspaper’s action was not only symbolic, but a timely demonstration of protest against what was fast becoming autocracy and military-style repression.
The Group urged Nigerians and civil society groups to stand up for their rights as many are doing around the world , using all peaceful and legal means ,including the right to protest and assemble peacefully.
