Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s speech on the nationwide protest.
He opined that the presidential speech did not address the demands of the protesters.
Falana shared his reservations via a statement on Sunday.
He argued that there will be no need for fuel subsidy if crude oil is processed in government owned refineries.
“If the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action,” Falana said.
He congratulated the protesters for drawing the attention of politicians who are eating in Abuja to the plight of millions of Nigerians and subsequently demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters that were arrested and detained saying they had not committed any criminal offence.
Falana also condemned the repression of the peaceful protesters while commiserating with all those who lost loved ones in the protest.
“We commiserate with the families of the patriots’ peaceful protesters that were killed and call on the Federal and State Governments to set up Commissions of Inquiry, which should include representatives of credible human rights organisations and the NBA to investigate the killings with a view to bringing to justice prosecute the reckless murderers in Police uniform and ensuring that.
“The family members of the deceased should be adequately compensated by the federal government. The victims of the barbarous police killings should be identified and celebrated as heroes and heroines of the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian people. Participation in peaceful protests should never be criminalised in Nigeria,” he added.
