Osun CDHR Declares Support For Planned protest, Mobilises Members, Residents

Osun State Chapter of the Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), on Wednesday declared the readiness of its members to participate in August 1 nationwide protest.

This, according to the human rights group, was in line with the position of the National office of the organization.

CDHR in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu and made available to journalists in Osogbo, Wednesday urged all willing members to join the protest, saying both international and local laws recognize protest in the world.

The statement reads: “In line with the position of the National office of our dear organization the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights CDHR, we the leadership of the CDHR Osun state chapter therefore aline with the position of the National office and we are using this medium to call on all willing members and the general public to join the August 1st to 10th Nationwide protest.

“It should be noted that all laws both international and local law recognize protest in the world

“Article 21 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“Moreover, the right to protest is a fundamental human right of every Nigerian citizen, which the constitution entitles every Nigerian citizen to.

“Chapter IV of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.* Some of which include; the right to life, right to fair hearing, etc..

*The Constitution provides for the right of citizens to peaceful assembly under Section 40 and many times, the right to peaceful assembly is construed to mean protest.

“It should be noted that the demands of the protesters are genuine and realistic.

“CDHR has resolved to identify with the protest and state a solution to the economic challenges by demanding the following

“The government must, as a matter of urgency, attend to the inappropriate fuel subsidy removal, hike in electricity tariffs, heavy taxes on the formal and informal sectors, hike in tuition fees, and hyperinflation, among others.

“CDHR charged the Nigerian people to hold all elected office holders accountable, and the government at all levels (state governors, senators, the honorable members, and local government chairmen)

“CDHR charged all the security apparatus to be professional enough to curtail elements of destruction and violence during the protest

“CDHR condemned all comments tagging the planned protest ethnic coloration as some of the demands of the planned protest affect all Nigerian masses.

“CDHR acknowledged recent measures by the federal government to restructure the country and to ease mass suffering: a breakthrough in local government autonomy and the signing of a new minimum wage into law, among others.

“For the above reason, the state leadership hereby instructs all members to participate”