The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement has warned Nigerian police against stopping the proposed peaceful protest scheduled for December 10 in Ekiti State.
The movement urged the state government to immediately release Farotimi and lift the ban on the proposed protests, warning that the suppression of civic freedoms would not be accepted.
In a statement released on Friday, TIB South-West Coordinator, Comrade Netufo Tomide, described the arrest as a blatant attempt to silence a vocal critic of the government and suppress the fundamental rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Comrade Tomide explained that the right to protest is enshrined in Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly and association.
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The statement read, “We reject the Ekiti State Police Command’s claims that Dele Farotimi’s arrest was lawful. The command’s actions are a clear violation of his fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.”
“Furthermore, we assert that protest is a fundamental right in Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
“The Ekiti State Police Command’s ban on lawful gatherings and protests is an unconstitutional attempt to stifle dissenting voices and suppress the rights of citizens to express themselves freely.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dele Farotimi. We also call on the Nigerian authorities to respect the rights of citizens to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.”
“We stand in solidarity with Dele Farotimi and all those who are fighting for justice, equality and human rights in Nigeria,” Tomide added.
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