PWYP, CODWA Condemn Nigerian Govt Attacks On Activists, Protesters, Says Civic Space Under Siege

Abuja, Nigeria- Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria and the Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) have raised alarms over a severe contraction of civic space in Nigeria, attributing it to the actions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The organisations stated that for several weeks, reports indicated that the Nigerian government has increasingly targeted peaceful protesters and rights activists with brutal tactics.

They added that the situation has escalated into a crisis marked by unprecedented killings, unlawful arrests, torture, and detention of those advocating for civil liberties.

The organisations explained that the security forces have been implicated in these attacks, raising concerns about a wider erosion of democratic freedoms.

According to PWYP and CODWA, mirrors a disturbing pattern where the state’s response to dissent is marked by intimidation rather than engagement.

The organisations urge both domestic and global communities to hold the Nigerian government accountable and to advocate for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria, and Adebayo Titus of the Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) urged Nigerians to wake up to the current realities and the need for solidarity to restore sanity to the polity.

The statement read, “The recent arrests of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe AJAERO at the Lagos airport,  and the primitive occupation of the office of a foremost civil rights organization working to strengthen the Rule of Law and the oil and gas sector  accountability, the Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the State Security Services (SSS); are strong concerns that we are in the middle of a FASCIST REGIME reminisces of the eras of brazen global totalitarian regimes.”

“We wonder why the government of Bola Tinubu is jittery over citizens’ outcry for good governance and accountability.

“For how long would this government continue to repress its own citizens? SERAP is known for over three (3) decades to have walked the path of the Rule of Law, even under Tinubu’s government as the governor of Lagos, taking issues of public interest to Court on behalf of the people.

“Why is this government afraid of SERAP’s approach to the demand- side of accountability (DSA) of taking issues of corruption to Court?”

It continues, “On the arrest and detention of Comrade Ajaero, an injury to one, is an injury to all.”

“It is time Labour Unions in Nigeria Wake up to their responsibility to provide the leadership for political freedom in Nigeria. We have long abandoned the political stage for mediocres and Kleptomaniac syndromes that have wrecked our country.

“We strongly condemn the primitive excesses of the Tinubu administration that within a year in office, has evolved into full fascist emperor’s dynasty.”

However, PWYP and CODWA call for immediate action to halt these attacks and to restore the democratic principles of respect and dialogue between the government and its citizens.