A human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has cautioned protesters to avoid “undemocratic forces” using the nationwide hunger protest to call for a military coup in the country.
Falana’s statement follows reports on Sunday of protesters in Kano State waving Russian flags and chanting in Hausa, “We don’t want a bad government.”
While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protests (sections 39 and 40), Falana called on #EndBadGovernance protesters to reject undemocratic forces hijacking the movement to promote violence or a military coup.
He said: “While we support the rights of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for a military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country known for supporting unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an unconstitutional change of government.”
The legal luminary further cautioned those advocating military rule, warning that they may face charges of treasonable felony in violation of Section 41 of the Criminal Code.
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