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Free Nnamdi Kanu protest: ‘Nigeria pretending to be democracy’ – Farotimi

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Civil rights activist, Dele Farotimi, has slammed the Nigeria Police and the judiciary over their roles in restricting citizens from holding peaceful protests, describing the actions as evidence that Nigeria is merely pretending to be a democracy.

Farotimi stated this on Tuesday in an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

He stated that in a true democracy, citizens do not require a police permit to protest, adding that the police are only to be informed so they can provide security.

“In a democracy, there should never be a need for a police permit before you may have a protest. The police were informed so that they would provide security.

“That a court would presume to curtail the right of citizens to protest peacefully in a democracy is even suggestive of the fact that we’re not in a democracy. We’re only mimicking and pretending to be in one,” he said.

His comment is coming following a protest by the #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters in Abuja on Monday.

It was reports that the protesters marched round the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Monday demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

According to Farotimi, it is completely unheard of for citizens in a democracy to need the permission of their paid employees, the police, before they can congregate peacefully.

He maintained that the judiciary has become an extension of the executive and no longer serves the cause of justice.

“I’m sorry to say our judiciary is unfit for purpose. It does exactly as it is told by the executive and does not serve the cause of justice. An order is only as useful as its lawfulness,” he added.

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The activist said citizens who protest peacefully should not be criminalised, emphasising that only violent offenders should face arrest, recounting his own experience with a non-existent law, which he said exposed the dysfunction in the Nigerian legal system.

Source: dailypost.ng

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Build Nigeria from grassroots, not just Abuja, Lagos – Ex-presidential candidate

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Adewole Adebayo, leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and its presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general election, has stressed that Nigeria’s long-term progress lies in nurturing safe, productive and self-sustaining communities at the grassroots.

Adebayo spoke in Numan, Adamawa State, at a reception organised in his honour following the conferment of a traditional title on him by the Bachama kingdom.

While addressing traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, he described the Bachama people as a vital component of the Nigerian project, noting that the destiny of the nation is inseparable from the wellbeing of its local communities.

“The development of this land is the development of Nigeria because Nigeria is not just an idea; it is the land and the people,” he said.

He portrayed Numan and its environs as a rich heritage placed in the care of its people, urging citizens to take collective responsibility for nurturing the land, ensuring fair access to resources and raising families in conditions of safety and dignity.

The SDP leader also raised concerns about what he termed the over-centralisation of governance, arguing that efforts to drive national development primarily from Lagos in the past and later from Abuja have yielded limited success.

“The only time Nigeria will truly work is when we build it from the communities,” he said, adding that the true measure of national strength should be seen in the safety of homes, the quality of education and the freedom of young people to grow without fear.

According to him, meaningful development must allow families to farm, rear livestock, educate their children and participate actively in the economy within their local environments.

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Drawing parallels with countries such as the United States, Germany and Russia, Adebayo said enduring national success is built by citizens who flourish in their towns and villages, supported by access to electricity, water, security and economic opportunities.

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FG spent billions on Conference Centre but primary schools remain shut in FCT – Peter Obi

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed displeasure at the lingering strike by primary schools teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In a post on his official X handle, Obi said it is worrisome that the government spent billions of naira to renovate the International Conference Centre while primary schools in the nation’s capital remain on strike.

According to him, education is a cornerstone of national development.

He lamented that countless children remain out of school and those in school cannot attend because of insecurity or teachers’ strikes.

“This is particularly tragic in Abuja, the seat of government, where schools remain shuttered.

“This is the same Abuja where billions were squandered on renovating a conference centre for the president and Bus Terminals.

“One must question whether our leaders genuinely appreciate the vital role of education,” he wrote.

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Officers behind foiled coup knew consequences of their action – Defense Minister

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Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, rtd, says military officers arrested over the foiled coup knew the consequences of their action and are ready to face the wrath.

Musa said this when he appeared on TRT World, a Turkish broadcaster, stating that the accused persons would receive a fair trial, with access to legal counsel of their choice.

According to him, families of the alleged coup plotters would be looked after by the government.

“They must have made up their minds when they decided to do this and must have considered their families.

“But even at that, the government is ensuring that their families are treated fairly.

“Their family members are not left alone. The government is making sure that their wives and children are looked after.

“The perpetrators already know the repercussion of their action, and I’m sure they are ready to face the wrath,” he said.

It was recalls that the 16 implicated officers, including a Brigadier-General and Colonel, were arrested in October 2025 by the defence headquarters, DHQ.

The DHQ, on January 26, finally confirmed that there was a plot to oust President Bola Tinubu.

According to the military, the plot uncovered in late September 2025 through joint intelligence from the army, Department of State Services, DSS, and Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, allegedly involved plans to assassinate Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other top government figures, as well as arrest senior military leaders.

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