A leading opposition politician in Nigeria, Buba Galadima, has called for an end to the harassments of the promoters of the recent #ENDSARS campaign by the federal government.
News reports had recounted how Modupe Odele’s international passport was seized at the airport by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, barring her from travelling outside the country.
A fortnight ago, it was reported that Nigeria’s Central Bank had secured a court order directing some banks to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a company linked to the #EndSARS protests on allegations of terrorism financing.
Responding to these developments, Galadima, a former associate and confidant of the president cautioned against clamping down on the youth leaders.
Speaking when he featured on Arise TV morning programme, Galadima asked Buhari to order the banks to quickly unfreeze the accounts of the individuals.
According to Galadima, intimidating the protesters is unconstitutional. He reminded the president that Nigeria operates in a democracy, not in a military regime.
“What the government has done is not right. It has no such right or powers to block bonafide Nigerians from travelling out of the country or from accessing their (bank) accounts. Blocked for what? What have they done?” Galadima asked.
“These young men were peacefully protesting the actions, omissions or commissions of government. Why do you, after you persuaded them or after agents of government allegedly attacked or killed them, follow this draconian disposition of blocking their accounts? That is not constitutional.
“I’m sending this message to Mr President whether he knows or he doesn’t know, let him be shown what I am saying. His people have no right to do what they are doing.
“Please, they should desist and unblock the accounts of these young people and allow them to carry on with their normal activities as Nigerians. You cannot harass them. We are in a democracy; we are not in a military regime.”
The federal government on Tuesday vowed that it would not fold its arms and watch another round of #ENDSARS protests happen in the country.
The national security council made this resolve known at the end of a meeting presided over by president Buhari in Aso Villa.
