#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Falana Warns Protesters Against Clamour for Coup

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has cautioned protesters against allowing “undemocratic forces” to use the nationwide hunger protest to call for a military coup in the country. He made this statement following the waving of Russian flags by some protesters in Kano State on Sunday, as they chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”

Falana emphasized the rights of Nigerians to peaceful protests as outlined in sections 39 and 40 of the constitution. He stated, “While we support the right of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for a military coup in the country.”

Falana warned that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria. He also warned those involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule, stating that they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.

Falana urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to review the neoliberal policies promoting poverty and hardship in the country, which he said would make any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive to Nigerians. He cited the example of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited negotiating lower prices for petroleum products since the Federal Executive Council has directed that 445,000 barrels of crude oil be allocated daily and sold to the Dangote Refinery in naira.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had noted that displaying Russian flags in Nigeria is a “treasonable offence” and that the Nigerian military would not accept such acts.