By Adeola Badru

As Nigeria marked the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has urged both federal and state governments to recognise and respect the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protests.

His comments came on the heels of the police’s use of teargas to disperse demonstrators at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, where protesters gathered to commemorate the day and demand the implementation of judicial panel recommendations from the 2020 protests.

Reports indicated that the Lagos State Police Command intervened early on Sunday morning, leading to chaotic scenes as protesters fled from the teargas.

Despite the police’s assertion that there was no confrontation and their actions were meant to prevent traffic issues, Ajadi criticised the heavy-handed approach, emphasising that peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of democratic governance.

In his statement, made available to Vanguard on Tuesday, Ajadi articulated that the federal government should remind law enforcement agencies of the importance of allowing peaceful protests.

He pointed out that the right to protest is not just a privilege but a fundamental aspect of democracy that should be encouraged.

“What we need to emphasize is that all protests must be peaceful. The panic reactions to the last nationwide protest by our law enforcement agencies are unnecessary,” the chieftain stated.

Ajadi called on the police to act as protectors of peaceful gatherings, rather than as enforcers of order through force.

He stressed that while maintaining law and order is crucial, it should not come at the expense of citizens’ rights.

“The police must guide and guard the protesters to prevent their peaceful intentions from being hijacked by hoodlums,” he added.

The NNPP chieftain recalled that the protesters, who arrived at the toll gate around 8:30 a.m. with banners and placards, were advocating for the full implementation of recommendations made by various judicial inquiries established after the 2020 protests.

Ajadi noted that it is vital for the government to listen to the voices of the youth, saying that protests served as a critical feedback mechanism for assessing governmental policies.

He encouraged young Nigerians to remain peaceful and articulate their demands clearly in any future demonstrations.

“Instead of scaring our youths from protesting, we should encourage them to express their views constructively,” Ajadi concluded.