The anti-fuel subsidy removal strike in Enugu State was partially observed by civil servants and those in the private sector, following the state government’s ban on public assemblies, meetings and procession until further notice.
Governor Sullivan Chime had on Sunday made a proclamation banning public assemblies, meetings and procession, saying they were capable of leading to breakdown of law and order.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, urged residents and, indeed all her citizens to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation.
The statement said: “Government, hereby, assures that appropriate security measures have been put in place to ensure security of lives and property of the people. However, government warns that any person or group of persons who attempts to cause any breach of peace will be severely dealt with.
Government, therefore, wishes to advise parents and guardians to warn their wards against being used to foment trouble.
“In the same vein, government also reassures residents from other parts of the country not to leave the state as their security is guaranteed”.
In compliance with government’s directive, the state chapter of NLC, stopped their planned protest and rather converged on its secretariat at New Market area of Enugu where they were still holding a meeting as at press time yesterday.
Apart from a handful of lawyers under the aegis of Nigerian Bar. Association, NBA, led by the sate chairman, Mrs Nnenna Uko, which staged a peaceful procession condemning removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, the entire state was very peaceful on the first day of the nationwide protest.
While some civil servants refused to show up in their offices, some banks were opened to customers while others admitted customers through the back doors. Most Federal Government owned offices, including the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were shut.
However, the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, South East zone, condemned the state government’s ban of public assemblies, meetings and procession, saying it was unconstitutional.
In a statement yesterday, the Zonal Director of CLO, Mr Olu Omotayo, said the state government’s action was wrong, insisting that “Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest by virtue of Section 40 of the Constitution, which provides for the right to peaceful assembly and association.”
He also cited the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja in the case of All Nigeria Peoples Party and 11 others vs. Inspector General of Police in which “Justice Chikelue held among other things that: the requirement of Police permit or other authority for holding rallies or procession is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Section 40 of the Constitution of Nigeria.
“Furthermore, the Public Order Act under which the police and governors always act is a federal enactment which cannot take away the right provided for by Section 40 of the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the country,” he added.
Omotayo, therefore, urged all protesters to disregard the threat by the state government and the police and come out en-mass to say no to the act of the oppressors against the good people of Nigeria.
