Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has condemned attempts to incite anarchy in the country following the #EndBadGovernance protests, emphasizing that Nigeria must not allow anyone to disrupt its democratic process.
The protests, which began on August 1, were initially peaceful but later saw incidents of destruction and looting in some northern regions. The appearance of protesters waving the Russian flag has also raised concerns.
In response to these developments, Falana urged the authorities to protect Nigeria’s democracy. During an appearance on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Tuesday, he said, “Some of us have been involved in the struggle for democratization in several African countries, including the fight against apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa.”
Falana continued, “Currently, I’m personally involved in the campaign against Morocco’s colonization of Western Sahara. Given this, we cannot stand by and allow undemocratic forces to undermine the democratic process.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining peaceful protests and resisting any calls for unconstitutional changes in government or a return to military rule. “We must protest peacefully, disagree with those in power, and criticize the denial of the dividends of democracy. However, peaceful protests should not be allowed to degenerate into a situation where repressive forces exploit the situation to call for unconstitutional changes in government.”
Falana acknowledged that the country faces challenges that may have sparked the protests but insisted that these issues should not be used as a pretext to disrupt the democratic process. He warned against calls for military rule, recalling the nation’s struggle against dictatorship.
“We’ve enjoyed 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule,” he noted. “For those under 40, who were probably around 15 when the military was forced out, they haven’t been taught what Nigerians endured under military dictatorships, nor have they learned about the Civil War. Many young people are calling for conflict in various parts of the country, so it’s crucial to draw lessons from our history.”
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