Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has expressed concerns over recent comments made by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, regarding public protests in Abuja. Effiong criticized Wike's stance, pointing out that Wike himself had previously participated in protests in the nation's capital before assuming his ministerial role. Effiong found it troubling that those who once exercised their right to protest are now discouraging the same.
Effiong highlighted the irony of Wike's position, noting that when Wike protested in Abuja, it was in public spaces, not in remote or dangerous areas like the Sambisa forest. He also mentioned that even President Bola Tinubu had a history of participating in public protests. Effiong questioned why individuals who once benefited from public demonstrations are now attempting to limit such activities.
The human rights lawyer further revealed that he and his legal team have taken action against a court order that restricts public protests in Abuja to the National Stadium. This interim order, initially obtained by Wike on July 31st and renewed on August 13th, effectively confines protesters to a designated area, limiting their ability to demonstrate freely across the city.
Effiong explained that his legal team has challenged this court order, seeking to have it overturned. He stressed that the application to set aside the order is still pending, and they are determined to ensure that the right to protest is upheld in Abuja. According to Effiong, such restrictions infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens to freely express their grievances in public spaces.He argued that it is unfair for those in power, who once protested themselves, to now impose limits on others exercising the same right.
In his remarks: "This same Nyesom Wike that is talking today before he became a minister he protested in Abuja, Wike did not protest in Sambisa forest. Even President Tinubu participated in protest in public. None of them went to the forest to protest so why should the rule now change now that they are in power. So we have come to court seeking to set aside the interim order that my Lord had made on the 31st of July and renewed on the 13th of August. That application is pending".
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