Govern Nigeria with responsibility, justice, compassion, Ulama Forum in Nigeria tells Tinubu

By KEMI KASUMU

The Forum, which observed that the protest rather took unlawful and violent dimension as it involved angry hunger and hardship victims among adult and minor citizens, noted that the “Federal and State Governments seem to have a tardy and inadequate appreciation of the depth of anger and dissatisfaction which motivated the protest.”

The Ulama Forum in Nigeria, rose from a meeting Thursday in Kano, its headquarters, where two leaders and 25 members across the country endorsed a statement asking the Federal Government of the country to revisit the August 1-10, 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest that rocked many states of the nation and take holistic measure at addressing what led to the protest.

The Forum, which observed that the protest rather took unlawful and violent dimension as it involved angry hunger and hardship victims among adult and minor citizens, noted that the “Federal and State Governments seem to have a tardy and inadequate appreciation of the depth of anger and dissatisfaction which motivated the protest.”

The statement dated Thursday November 14, 2024 was signed by Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, Convener, and Engr Basheer Adamu Aliyu, Secretary, and endorsed by Malam Aminu Inuwa Muhammad – Convener Kano; Prof. Mansur Ibrahim mni, Danmasanin Sokoto – Sokoto; Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar – Kano; Dr. Abubakar Muhamad Sani B/Kudu – Jigawa; Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu – Kaduna; Prof. Muhammad Babangida Muhammad – Bauchi, Dr. Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa – Kano; Prof. Salisu Shehu – Bauchi; Prof. Ahmad Bello Dogarawa – Kaduna; Mal Ahmad Bello Abu Maimoona – Katsina; Prof. Muhammad Alhaji Abubakar – Borno; and Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, Sadaukin Sokoto – Sokoto and 13 others.

The Ulama Forum in Nigeria stated that it considered revisiting of the August 2024 protest and its aftermath effects necessary due to their grave implications not only on the credibility and survival of the ongoing democratic experience, but also on the peace, security and survival of the nation.

“The protest by a cross section of Nigerian youth, which took place from the 1st to the 10th of August, 2024, led to the recent arraignment of persons (including minors) suspected to commit offences of sedition and treason before a Federal High Court. There was hue and cry that the suspects, especially the minors, were, apparently, subjected to inhuman treatment.

“It could be recalled that the protest was organised and carried out by the organisers, who gave government sufficient notice, under law, to protest myriad complaints over the declining living condition and standard of living in the country, including diminishing purchasing power due to inflationary spiral as well as pervasive insecurity. This gave rise to despondency and desperation.

“The Federal and State Governments seem to have a tardy and inadequate appreciation of the depth of anger and dissatisfaction which motivated the protest. Governments also took unnecessary time to threaten the organisers rather than prepare with all the necessary measures available to the state to nip it in the bud. Instead, the government, perplexedly, denied knowledge of the organisers, playing cat and mouse with a grave issue.”

With that background, they observed that “i. The protest evidently took unlawful and violent dimensions in a number of states, as against the initial publicised objectives of the organisers, leading to loss of innocent lives and destruction of public and private properties, thereby threatening the fragile peace and security of the nation;

“ii. The Federal Government changed the narrative of the protest to seditious and treasonable action because a Russian flag was used to taunt the government;

“iii. Consequently, the security agencies moved in and arrested those they considered were involved in sedition and treason (including minors) for raising the foreign flag;

“iv. Furthermore, the security agencies also carried out a wide range of mass arrest where the protests were believed to be most raucous and destructive.”

But the Ulama Forum leaders made their recommendations.  They said, “In the light of the foregoing situation analysis, and for the sake of safeguard against future recurrence, the Ulama Forum recommends as follows:

“i. The manner in which this issue of allegation of sedition and treason was handled portrayed our country to the outside world in bad light especially the way the minors appeared before the court apparently coming out of inhuman condition in the detention facility. Raising flags is a universal phenomenon. We do see people in many countries raising flags of countries like the US, Palestine, Israel, etc. We have not heard that the authorities of their countries charged them with sedition and treason. Therefore, the charges for sedition and treason on all protesters must be dropped.

“ii. The Nigeria Police on their part must understand that legitimate protests are constitutional. They must not deploy the means to kill and maim rather than to apprehend those breaking the law. Unfortunately, we did not see the Police making arrest during the protest in the many video clips that went viral. We are afraid that those arrested might have been picked indiscriminately after the protests subsided and are likely to be innocent passersby;

“iii. Although organisations, citizens and the larger society have legitimate right to express dissatisfaction with policies and actions of government that deprived them but such must be within the bounds of the law, abiding by procedure, avoiding violence and destruction, pillaging and illicit protection of criminals;

“iv. We commend Mr. President for timely intervention in directing the dropping of the charges, following the public uproar. We urge His Excellency to constitute an independent panel to investigate the issues with a view to unravel the truth as is done in all civilised climes. The findings and the recommendations of the panel should be implemented and those found wanting should be sanctioned to forestall future occurrence. Those wrongly arrested and detained should be compensated and offered public apology;

“v. We hope Mr. President will use this opportunity to initiate a holistic reform of the criminal justice system, especially the condition of our detention and custodial facilities. Our Police do resort to indiscriminate arrest because they lack necessary modern technologies that will support their work in crime detection, prevention and investigation. Our Police should be modernised to meet the challenge of 21st Century policing which is technology driven;

“vi. The Federal and State Governments must strive to deliver good governance that Nigerians are yearning for;

“vii. The Judiciary should abide by the strict procedures of litigation by ensuring that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done. In this regard, Judges should think outside the box. They must not be seen to be dancing to the tune of the prosecuting agencies. Judges must be circumspect in handling cases involving liberty of persons accused in suspicious circumstances especially minors; and

“viii. The State Governors in Nigeria are known to challenge the Federal Government by dragging it to court whenever they feel that the Federal Government is wrong by encroaching into their areas of their authority. However, they appear to look the other way when citizens of their States (including minors) were taken to Abuja to be tried before the Federal High Court while most of the offences are state offences.”

They then concluded by urging, “the Federal Government to listen to the cries of majority citizens of the country and govern with responsibility, justice and compassion.”