In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by the President, on Monday Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, said, “Every citizen has the right to protest whenever there is a breach of their constitutional rights or privileges”.
“The actions of the police make it clear that they are not interested in fostering development, ensuring the security of life and property, or upholding the sanity of the nation. Instead, their focus seems solely on what will benefit the President and his decisions”.
“It is unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu shows no regard for the Rule of Law. More concerning, however, is the fact that the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has acted in direct contradiction to all known democratic processes, blindly following the bidding of Abuja-based politicians to engage in actions that are against the will of people of Rivers State.
“Every citizen has the right to protest whenever there is a breach of their constitutional rights or privileges. I have never witnessed a situation where citizens are barred from exercising their rights in a sane society”.
It would be recalled that operatives of the Rivers state Police command, dispersed the anti- emergency rule in Rivers state protesters with teargas, on Monday.
The protesters were greeted by heavy police presence when they gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The demonstrators, who had gathered peacefully to express their grievances, were thrown into disarray as the tear gas canisters sent many scampering for safety.
The protest, which is part of a nationwide demonstration spearheaded by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations, began earlier in the day to draw attention to several national issues as well as demand urgent government action on worsening economic conditions, rising repression, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act and state of emergency” in Rivers State
The Protesters, including human rights activists, carried placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe”.
