Renowned activist and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has declared that no amount of government threats will halt the nationwide protests planned for August 1. This announcement comes in response to increasing warnings from various organizations and the presidency, all condemning the upcoming demonstrations.
Falana emphasized that the protests are essential to highlight the severe economic hardships faced by Nigerians. Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, he called on the Federal Government to engage constructively with the protest organizers rather than attempting to suppress the movement through intimidation.
“They have a way of contacting themselves and I think the government can draw some lessons from the 2020 (#EndSARS) experience,” Falana remarked. He urged the authorities to, “Identify those who are planning the protest and then engage with them productively.”
Falana made it clear that threats from government officials are counterproductive, stating, “Threats will not work. In fact, the government’s actions often have a way of popularizing such protests. Nobody listens to such warnings.”
He suggested a more proactive approach, recommending that the government should meet with the protest leaders to discuss and address their grievances. “This time around, the government should identify the leaders of the movement and have some dialogue with them. There are demands that are being raised, and the government should address those demands.”
