BLUF Protest Day 2

Civil society salutes the courage and resolve of Nigerians to sustain the steam of the BLUF Campaign by coming out en masse to protest on this second day of the nationwide mass protests. We note the enthusiasm and conviction of Nigerians as they say, ‘Say No to Fuel Subsidy Removal’, through non-violent protest marches across the country in the face of repression and the lethal use of force and propaganda by the Nigerian state. We salute the courage of Nigerians in the diaspora who have also carried out protests and supported the struggle in many ways. The important message today is that Nigerians are resolved that the current campaign is beyond the mere dynamics of reversing the pump price of petrol to N65 per litre. It is inclusive of combating the corruption, incompetence and deception of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

We are emboldened that more cities and towns have now joined in our mass action and others are on the flanks waiting to join. Cities where protests are growing include Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Abuja, Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Rubochi, Osogbo, Ojota, Ilupeju, Badagry, Lafia, Lokoja, Bauchi, Warri, Makurdi, Kano, Owerri and Kaduna, Ado-Ekiti. We salute the courage of Nigerians as we appreciate the fact that the main rallies have registered over three million protesters with many more yet-to-be enumerated clusters springing up.

We commend patriotic journalists and media practitioners that have striven to maintain and amplify the voice of the people, without cowering to the propaganda and corrupt practices perpetrated by the corrupt government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

We hold responsible the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allision-Maduekwe for truncating the dialogues that should have preceded the subsidy removal. We frown at the current consistent spin efforts spearheaded by them, on the inconsistencies by public officials and the distortion of facts to deceive and confuse Nigerians on the issues at stake.

We commend Nigerians for taking their peaceful protests to the homes of three leading members of the ‘cabal’: Femi Otedola, Wale Tinubu and Oba Otudeko.

Further to our first bulletin, we once again draw attention to the policing and law enforcement rules of engagement being deployed by the Nigerian state in accordance with Section 10 of the Police Act and Police Regulation 414, CAP P19, LFN 2004. These provisions place the responsibility of giving direction on the rules of engagement to be deployed by the police squarely at the discretion of Mr. President. It clear that the policing and law enforcement pattern contradict the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials all of which prohibit the indiscriminate use of lethal force by agents of the state. No democratic state can seek to prevent the well planned expression of grievances vide direct action of peaceful non-violent protest marches. The blood of too many innocent Nigerians is being wasted, to use an expression invented by the Nigerian police. As the killings continue, we must begin to pose questions about the directing role played by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In today’s world, no president is exempt from the clutches of the International Criminal Court.

Finally, we call on Nigerians at home and abroad to remain steadfast in their turnout to fight against oppressive regimes and urge them to continue their unrelenting, simultaneous actions, even by standing in front of their homes with placards reading: “REVERT TO N65 per litre”.

WE NIGERIANS SHALL CALL THE GOVERNMENT’S BLUFF.

Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim
Director, Centre for Democracy and Development

Ayodeji Ajayeoba
President, United Action for Democracy

Ayisha Osori
Director, Advocates for Change and Social Justice

Dr. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director, Centre LSD

Dr. Hussaini Abdu
Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria

For and on Behalf of Nigeria Civil Society
10th January 2012

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