Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, representing the Enugu North/South Constituency in the House of Representatives, has urged the federal government to release the detained #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters. Speaking as a member of the Labour Party, Atu condemned the continued detention of those who participated in the August hunger protest, labeling it as illegal and a violation of constitutional rights.
In his statement on Thursday, Hon. Atu emphasized that peaceful protest is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution, which must be respected in any true democracy. He called on the government to either bring the detained protesters to court or release them unconditionally, asserting that their ongoing detention without trial is unjust.
“The continued detention without trial of individuals who peacefully participated in the recent protests is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to peaceful protest. These individuals across all the states should be released unconditionally or be allowed to have their day in court,” Atu wrote on his X handle on Thursday.
He further assured the public that the House of Representatives would address the issue upon their resumption on September 17th. “We are currently on recess, set to resume on September 17th. We shall do the needful,” Atu added.
The detention of about 1,000 hunger protesters across Nigeria, as reported by Amnesty International, has drawn widespread criticism. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum also joined the call for their release, holding the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration responsible for the economic hardship that triggered the August protest.
This version delivers a clear and balanced message, focusing on the constitutional rights of citizens and the need for justice, in a manner consistent with the style of Dr. Olumide Emmanuel.
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