By Danlami Nmodu
Former Minister of Education,Dr Oby Ezekwesili has kicked against the ban on protests in Abuja by the Commissioner of Police,Federal Capital Territory,FCT ,Mr Joseph Mbu.A report by the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN said Mbu issued the ban on Monday on the heels of protests and rallies in the city.
The most prominent group of protesters in Abuja belong to the #BringBackOurGirls movement.It was therefore little surprising that one of the group’s leaders,Ezekwesili took to her twitter handle to kick against Mbu’s order banning protests.
According to Ezekwesili on twitter“There is no BASIS for and no POWER of FCT Commissioner of Police to ban peaceful assembly of any group of persons in in the city. None @ ALL”
She continued “We of the AbujaFamily of #BringBackOurGirls have in the face of harassment by both the Nigerian Police &hired thugs maintained our CIVILITY”
“What Commissioner Mbu should do is REPRIMAND their sponsored thugs who attacked us, WOMEN at our peaceful gathering. He can. He hired them,” she said .
She was referring to the attack on the #BringBackOurGirls movement at Unity Fountain last week.During that incident , the campaigners for the return alive of over 200 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram over a month ago ,refused to react violently.
Rather the Hadiza Bala Usaman and Ezekwesili -led group relocated to the Maitama Park on Friday last week.Surprisingly, the group was also locked out .But the campaigners continued their activity in open space. Last Thursday security agents made a failed attempt to stop a similar rally in Kano.
Before then, the Minister of Information,Mr Labaran Maku alleged that the #BringBackOurGirlsCampaigners belong to opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ezekwesili described the minister’s claim as untrue and shocking a s symposium last Thursday.What are we demanding, She asked ?#BringBackOurGirls ,Now and Alive, the Crowd roared repeatedly at Thisday Dome Venue of the symposium last Thursday
Read below some oby’s tweets and the angry responses trailing Mbu’s ban of protest :
Baba The Godfather @Ayourb · 36m
It proves the theory right, that the FG wants us to forget the agitation to #BringBackOurGirls so that we can “move on” as usual @obyezeks
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 36m
No matter how DIRELY they want to take our FOCUS off our #ChibokGirls, We shall not permit them that LUXURY. All WE are SAYING………!!!
Retweeted by oby ezekwesili
SAP @Idnoble10S · 42m
@obyezeks he has forgotten that he is no longer in port harcourt
View conversation
Retweeted by oby ezekwesili
Gov @oyebaggio · 42m
@obyezeks They can ban protests in Abuja,but not in all other parts of d world.it has turned a global thing now….#shame
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Retweeted by oby ezekwesili
Asabe Gamawa @Asabe88 · 41m
@obyezeks Mbu again,that’s the reason he was transfered to abj.
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Retweeted by oby ezekwesili
Akin Omo Akin @Clemsakin71 · 40m
@Ayourb @obyezeks I don’t know why FG is projecting/promoting this kind of character and you want Int’l communities to take us serious.
Retweeted by oby ezekwesili
Gov @oyebaggio · 40m
@obyezeks @omojuwa banning protests in Abuja further underlines our govts not wanting to take responsibility.Remember d world is watching
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 42m
Our AbujaFamily of #BringBackOurGirls diverse women, men and young people STANDING with our #ChibokGirls SHALL never abandon them. Never!
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 50m
If Mbu’s daughter were one of >200 Daughters of Nigeria held captive by terrorists & We came out to STAND 4 their CAUSE, he would do this??
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 58m
Predictably, Mbu has proven by his latest ill advised statement of repression of Citizens Rights that he and his bosses HIRED those THUGS.
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 59m
When their thugs attacked us while Mbu’s POLICEmen stood aloof, we refused to engage wt their gutter conduct. We figured this was their PLOT
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 1h
What Commissioner Mbu should do is REPRIMAND their sponsored thugs who attacked us, WOMEN at our peaceful gathering. He can. He hired them.
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 1h
We of the AbujaFamily of #BringBackOurGirls have in the face of harassment by both the Nigerian Police &hired thugs maintained our CIVILITY
oby ezekwesili @obyezeks · 1h
There is no BASIS for and no POWER of FCT Commissioner of Police to ban peaceful assembly of any group of persons in in the city. None @ ALL
