The Take It Back Movement has condemned the “attack,” Saturday, on the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi, in Ebonyi State, by the police.
The TIB in a statement, Sunday, signed by its Global Director on Media and Communications, Dr. Chidi Nwanyanwu, said the police, as an institution funded by the Nigerian people, was duty-bound to protect the rights to peaceful assembly and ensure the maximum protection of Nigerians.
The PUNCH reported that the police gave reasons for dispersing the Obidient Movement, who gathered at the Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki, for a march in support of Obi.
Reacting to this, the TIB said, “We strongly condemn the violent repression of supporters of the Labour party who had gathered in Abakalilki to rally in support of their candidate. We describe the action of the police as criminal, lawless and a flagrant disregard for rights to peaceful assembly.”
“We worry that while insurgents and all sorts of armed criminals have made the entire country unsafe, especially with the recent deadly attack on Ifeanyi Uba’s convoy,” it said, alleging that “the police has chosen unsurprisingly to concern itself with indulging in criminal repression of peaceful gatherings and offering itself to be used by the ruling All Progressives Congress to repress oppositions.”
“We wish to remind the police that as an institution funded by the Nigerian people, it is duty bound to protect our rights to peaceful assembly and ensure the maximum protection of Nigerians whether they are in political rallies, protests, meetings, and all other activities within the confines of their constitutional rights.
“While we call on well-meaning Nigerians to rise against the fascism of the APC and its attempt to make the electoral processes violent and noncredible, we also call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all officers involved in the lawlessness that happened in in Abakalilki.
“Meanwhile, we call on all Nigerians to understand that a real political change can only come through a revolutionary alternative like Omoyele Sowore and the African Action Congress, instead of negotiating with rulers like David Umahi, like Peter Obi is doing. We urge all Nigerians who want to build another country away from want and war to ignore all sentiments and join the revolutionary train. For it is such a principled and ever-ready train that can defend the votes of Nigerians come 2023 elections!” The statement added.
