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| Peter Obi |
Peter Obi, leader of the Labour Party and 2023 presidential candidate, has criticized the government's treatment of protesters, including minors, who were brought to court under humiliating conditions.
In a statement from his spokesman, Obi emphasized that the constitution permits citizens to protest against poor governance affecting their lives.
He called for an investigation into this "horrendous incident," which he described as a disgrace to Nigeria's reputation on the global stage, in a post shared on his X account on November 1, 2024
Obi wrote: "I just watched the disturbing and condemnable scenes captured in a circulating video, showing 124 protesters—among them minors—appearing in court today as part of efforts to secure the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
"The footage reveals minors, some so weak that they could barely stand, others fainting from sheer exhaustion and lack of nourishment. These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved - a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation.
"From their look, they were poorly handled despite being in the custody of the federal government of Nigeria.
"The offense alleged against these suspects, including minors, is protesting against bad governance that was directly affecting their livelihood and which our constitution under a democratic dispensation guarantees them. Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution standing as champions of good governance while in opposition.
"Moreover, our status presumes that suspects deserve some dignity, even in a correctional home as human beings.
"The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.
"May I appreciate the presiding lordship for halting the trial and saving the country further embarrassment it would have been to the world as a democratic nation?
"I would like to call on relevant authorities, especially the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, and the DSS, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate such inhuman treatment of minors to avert such incidents in the future.”
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