Nigerian Women Rights Group Insists on Freedom of Speech
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Nigerian Guardian
Condemns pulling down of billboard on Chibok girls
AS the World celebrates the International Day for the Child today, the Women for Peace and Justice Group, a coalition of civil society groups, has decried the pulling down of the placards it placed at Falomo roundabout in Lagos, saying that they will not be intimidated.
In a statement, the group said the placards, which had been formed into a wall of missing persons, bore the profiles of 176 missing Chibok girls as verified by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and were placed as evidence and a constant reminder of the abduction and to drive the demand for the rescue of the girls by the Federal Government.
“As we join the world to celebrate the International Day for the Child, a day the world has set apart for the discussion of the wellbeing of our children, we garner more impetus in our demand for the rescue of the abducted girls. We are not going away and nor giving up our rights to speak out but continue to do so until the girls are back - safe and alive!” said Yemisi Ransome Kuti, a lead member of the group.
The coordinator of the Lagos group, Mrs Aisha Oyebode further disclosed that the organization had planned several events around the Falomo roundabout in commemoration of the International day of the African child.
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 14, 2014 the group upon arriving the Falomo roundabout discovered that the placards were missing and an investigation revealed that policemen removed the placards at around 3 a.m. on Saturday night. She bemoaned the removal of the placards on a night exactly two months to the night that the Chibok girls were abducted describing it as insensitive and cruel.
“When we mounted the placards several weeks ago, Lagosians from all walks of life had joined in the rally with allies from the international community including the United Nations(UN) charging the way. The girls’ profiles placed at the busy round-about had served as a daily charge for all of us not to accept the abduction as a way of life in Nigeria and to demand that the girls be brought back safe and alive. Who could possibly be intimidated by 176 wooden placards at a roundabout in Lagos? This clearly violates our freedom of expression which is a prerequisite of democracy,” she said.
The group vowed to continue with the protests and agitations until the girls are brought back home alive.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu had proscribed any form of protest in Abuja last month only for the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar to repeal the ban some days later. A high court in Abuja has also ruled that the ban placed on the BringBackourGirls protest is unconstitutional and illegal.
The coalition has been staging relentless protests across the country to campaign for the rescue of the Chibok school girls who were kidnapped on April 14 by Boko Haram.
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| Women-led demonstrations to release abducted school girls. |
Nigerian Guardian
Condemns pulling down of billboard on Chibok girls
AS the World celebrates the International Day for the Child today, the Women for Peace and Justice Group, a coalition of civil society groups, has decried the pulling down of the placards it placed at Falomo roundabout in Lagos, saying that they will not be intimidated.
In a statement, the group said the placards, which had been formed into a wall of missing persons, bore the profiles of 176 missing Chibok girls as verified by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and were placed as evidence and a constant reminder of the abduction and to drive the demand for the rescue of the girls by the Federal Government.
“As we join the world to celebrate the International Day for the Child, a day the world has set apart for the discussion of the wellbeing of our children, we garner more impetus in our demand for the rescue of the abducted girls. We are not going away and nor giving up our rights to speak out but continue to do so until the girls are back - safe and alive!” said Yemisi Ransome Kuti, a lead member of the group.
The coordinator of the Lagos group, Mrs Aisha Oyebode further disclosed that the organization had planned several events around the Falomo roundabout in commemoration of the International day of the African child.
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 14, 2014 the group upon arriving the Falomo roundabout discovered that the placards were missing and an investigation revealed that policemen removed the placards at around 3 a.m. on Saturday night. She bemoaned the removal of the placards on a night exactly two months to the night that the Chibok girls were abducted describing it as insensitive and cruel.
“When we mounted the placards several weeks ago, Lagosians from all walks of life had joined in the rally with allies from the international community including the United Nations(UN) charging the way. The girls’ profiles placed at the busy round-about had served as a daily charge for all of us not to accept the abduction as a way of life in Nigeria and to demand that the girls be brought back safe and alive. Who could possibly be intimidated by 176 wooden placards at a roundabout in Lagos? This clearly violates our freedom of expression which is a prerequisite of democracy,” she said.
The group vowed to continue with the protests and agitations until the girls are brought back home alive.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu had proscribed any form of protest in Abuja last month only for the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar to repeal the ban some days later. A high court in Abuja has also ruled that the ban placed on the BringBackourGirls protest is unconstitutional and illegal.
The coalition has been staging relentless protests across the country to campaign for the rescue of the Chibok school girls who were kidnapped on April 14 by Boko Haram.
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