FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Moradeyo Anjorin
234-1-4977101, 2341 7915198
[email protected]

Mass Rally: IAP Calls for Caution

Good governance group asks government to exercise
restraint in dealing with protesters

LAGOS 4 MAY, 2004: Against the backdrop of the recent anti-Obasanjo
demonstrations in Abuja and Lagos, Independent Advocacy Project
(IAP), the good governance group, has called on the federal
government and the police to exercise restraint in dealing with the
situation.

While noting that freedom of assembly is a fundamental right of all
Nigerians, IAP however urged organisers of the rally to use only
lawful means in protesting against the Obasanjo-led administration.

In a statement released in Lagos yesterday, IAP descibed the
indiscriminate use of tear gas by the police in Lagos and Abuja
earlier in the week is an unfortunate throw back to the military era,
when the rule of force, rather than the rule of law reigned supreme.
Although Nigerians are supposed to be enjoying the fruit of democracy
after many years of brutal military dictatorship, men and officers of
the Nigeria Police force sometimes operate in a manner unbefitting of
a force under elected civilians.

Said the good governance group: “IAP is sad to note that the
governance situation in Nigeria seems to have deteriorated
considerably. Today the senate is preoccupied with “money sharing,”
not law making, President Obasanjo recently admitted that in a bid to
increase the strength of the police criminals were “mistakenly
recruited” into the force, his deputy Atiku Abubakar was reported to
have threatened to beat up judges, proceeds of the N1.50 fuel tax
imposed by the federal government last January seems to have gone
missing, while 43 members of the National Assembly were recently
sanctioned by the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) for
tampering with the meters in their homes at official quarters in
Abuja.

IAP hereby calls on the federal government to urgently address these
fundamental governance issues, including those been canvassed by the
CNPP and instruct the police to use tact and minimum force in dealing
with the protesters. A more permanent solution to the recent rallies
will be a significant improvement in the standard of living of
Nigerians and an appreciation that government needs to do more in
several areas, especially in curbing corruption and reducing
unemployment.

ends

--
Independent Advocacy Project (IAP)
Second Floor, 17/19, Allen Avenue, Oshopey Plaza,
P.O.Box 10073, G.P.O. Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria
Tel: 234-1-4977101, 2341 7915198
e-mail: [email protected]
website: http://www.ind-advocacy-project.org