The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has expressed serious concerns over the welfare of detained #EndBadGovernance protesters and activists, including Michael Adaramoye, Mosiu Sodiq, and Eleojo Opaluwa.
The organization claims that these detainees are being deprived of basic human necessities such as food, healthcare, and essential housing materials, resulting in illness and potentially life-threatening conditions.
CDWR is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these individuals, warning that if any of them die in custody, President Bola Tinubu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu will be held responsible.
The organization condemns the ongoing detention of these individuals, describing it as unlawful victimization and an attack on those who speak out against misgovernance and advocate for better living conditions.
They argue that it is unjust for corrupt members of the capitalist ruling elite to remain free while innocent activists and protesters are punished for demanding change.
This situation underscores the ongoing tensions between the government and those advocating for reform in Nigeria.
The civic organization made these statements in a press release issued on Sunday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chinedu Bosah.
The statement is titled, “CDWR Condemns the Continued Incarceration of Michael Adaramoye, Mosiu Sodiq, Eleojo Opaluwa, and Others Based on a Remand Court Order Clandestinely Procured by the Police.”
According to the group, “The Nigerian Police and the Bola Tinubu-led regime are determined to continue the incarceration of #EndBadGovernance protesters and activists.
It has been almost three weeks since Comrade Michael Adaramoye (Michael Lenin), Sodiq Mosiu, and others were illegally and unjustly detained by the Nigerian Police on the order of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to President Tinubu, without trial.”
The statement continued, “The Nigerian Police have ensured that Michael Adaramoye and others are denied access to legal representation and family members, as they are kept incommunicado.
The detainees are also deprived of basic human needs like food, healthcare, and essential housing materials like beds.”
“Due to the inhumane and deplorable conditions, some detainees have fallen ill, and Nuhu Ribadu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have denied them the right to medical treatment. The Tinubu government will be held accountable if any of the detainees die in custody.”
The statement further revealed that “On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the Nigerian Police clandestinely obtained a remand order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to extend the unjust detention of the protesters by 60 days without their legal representatives.”
“This underhanded remand order highlights the ongoing tyranny that has characterized the Tinubu government,” CDWR alleged.
The organization accused the judiciary of being compromised and used to support the dictatorship of the Tinubu-led regime.
They said, “Since the preparation for the #EndBadGovernance protest, the government has used the judiciary across the country to undermine the constitutional and democratic rights of Nigerians to peacefully protest bad governance and anti-people policies.”
“It has become common practice for the government to secretly obtain ‘Black Market’ injunctions and orders against workers, trade unions, and activists. We condemn these undemocratic and underhanded tactics of the government.”
“In Nigeria, the corrupt capitalist ruling elite walks freely while innocent activists, trade unionists, socialists, and protesters are unlawfully victimized and attacked.
For instance, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was caught on video in 2018 receiving wads of dollars in bribes from a contractor.”
“However, the Nigerian Police have not deemed it necessary to arrest, detain, or prosecute him. Instead, Ganduje emerged as the national chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and has become ‘untouchable,’ just like many privileged, corrupt, and self-serving members of the ruling elite.”
“We, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), reiterate our condemnation of the illegal and unjust incarceration of Michael Adaramoye, Mosiu Sodiq, Eleojo Opaluwa, and others, and demand their immediate and unconditional release,” the statement concluded.
