Former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Legborsi Pyagbara, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address the concerns of discontented Nigerian citizens.
This appeal was made during a joint press briefing by the Ogoni Democracy and Development Forum and the African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Pyagbara, who now serves as the Executive Director of ODDF, emphasized that peaceful protests are a fundamental means for citizens to highlight issues of poor governance, stating that Nigeria should not be an exception in this regard.
Reflecting on the current state of the country, Pyagbara lamented the escalating economic hardship, describing it as “becoming sustainable.”
He declared, “Never in the history of our dear country have we witnessed the type of suffering that the Nigeria masses have had to contend with in the last 12 months. Never has hopelessness and disbelief in our nation been so poignant than what we have seen now. Hope is the renewable energy that keeps one to believe in a future that will be bright. Once that hope is lost, the person is lost.”
Pyagbara outlined several demands, urging the government to address the rising cost of food, reduce petroleum prices, and tackle the increasing insecurity in the country.
He also called for a reduction in the cost of governance by decreasing the number of political office holders and cutting down on utilities and facilities.
The ODDF Executive Director pressed for electoral reforms and judicial reforms, criticizing the judiciary for no longer being the “last hope of the common man.”
He emphasized the need to complete the East-West road, to stop the forced resumption of oil activities without dialogue with the Ogoni people, and to return Nigeria to a system of regionalism.
Highlighting the importance of peaceful protest, Pyagbara stated, “The only way citizens can draw attention to their sufferings is to embark on peaceful protest. Protest is a legitimate right of citizens protected by international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.”
He further explained that, “Peaceful protests allow citizens to publicly voice their concerns, challenge injustices, and participate actively in the democratic process. Peaceful protest is the cornerstone of democratic governance and a vital tool for holding leaders accountable.”
Pyagbara urged the Nigerian government and its security agencies to respect citizens’ rights to protest and to ensure that law enforcement protects protesters while maintaining public order without resorting to force.
He also called on protesters to conduct their activities peacefully and responsibly, avoiding any actions that might incite violence or disrupt public order.
