What is expected of protesters in a democracy

As Nigerian youths prepare to take to the streets to express their grievances against unfavourable government policies, many observers have called for introspection to avoid a repeat of the violence that occurred during the 2020 #EndSARS protests. Dozens of people were killed then and billions of naira worth of infrastructure and materials were destroyed in several states.

The planned 10-day protest with the tag #EndBadGovernance has raised concerns of violence and government repression.

The 2020 #EndSARS protests, which began as a peaceful demonstration against police brutality, unfortunately turned violent, resulting in widespread destruction of public and private properties, including police stations, buses, and buildings.

Lagos State Government Estimated damages The amount would be over 1 trillion Nigerian Naira, and many businesses and individuals would also suffer losses.

As the country braces for another round of protests, it is important to understand what is expected from protesters in a democracy.

Protesting in a democracy

The right to protest is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law, but it also carries with it responsibilities.

Some of the peaceful activities being carried out by protesters include marching, singing songs, and putting down tools at work sites.

Festus Ogun, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, told PREMIUM TIMES that protesters should demonstrate peacefully, and use placards and other materials to express their grievances without destroying public property or excessively blocking roads.

On the other hand, he advised that the government should respect the rights of the protesters, protect them from harm and engage in constructive dialogue to address their concerns.

Mr Ogun said protesters should be allowed to march freely and must be protected.

“We must be careful about the use of roads,” he said. “Some people would say protesters shouldn't block roads, but protests are not held in rooms.”

Former Senator Shehu Sani identified two other factors that could defeat the actual goal of peaceful protest.

According to him, clashes between two opposing protest groups and defiance of the protest leadership could turn the protest into violence.

'Attempts to suppress protests are unacceptable'

A coalition of 37 civil society organisations, including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), warned the government in a statement on July 29 that any attempt to suppress protests through “intimidation, excessive use of force or unjust legal action” is unacceptable and counterproductive.

The coalition further said, “every protest is supposed to be peaceful”, and advised the government to “identify and arrest” those who seek to take over protests.

The groups said that as a result of plans to suppress protest, they were compelled to reaffirm citizens’ fundamental right to peaceful protest.

The coalition said the right to protest is a cornerstone of any democratic society and a vital means for citizens to express their dissatisfaction, demand accountability, and advocate for change.

Read Also: Oyebanji, Police and others urge Ekiti youths to desist from protests

The groups said, “Protesting is a legitimate form of expression, enshrined in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.” They urged the judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to uphold the rights of all protesters and establish a mechanism to promptly address and dismiss allegations of repression arising from these protests.

Civil society organisations called on concerned parties to “uphold the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law”, encouraging all citizens to actively participate in shaping a just and accountable society.