Protesters demand reversal of Cybercrime Act, Rivers Emergency Rule
By Shakirudeen Bankole
The planned Nationwide Protest against the controversial proposed Cybercrime Law currently before the National Assembly and the demand for the reversal of the State of Emergency Rule declared in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commenced in Lagos.
According to the organisers of the protest, the recommendation of the Cybercrime Act, which has passed second reading and about to go for Public Hearing, gives Life Sentence for offenders of any offences deemed in violation of any of the provisions.
Some of the violations include, any act deemed offensive by the state or injurious to any of the elected officials.
The thrust of the Cybercrime Act is to promote and guarantee digital rights privacy, safety, and protection against cyber-bully.
The activists, said the law, which was initially thrown out because of public outcry but has secretly found it way back to legislative process, is not only draconian in nature but undemocratic, as it further stifles freedom of expression.
Also, according to agitators, the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, and the state Assembly by Tinubu was unconstitutional as the two tiers of government were democratically elected.
Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon and a former Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore, were the coordinators of the protest.
Kiin Media has been covering the protest and can authoritatively report that, through to their words, the protesters defied serious warnings from the Police to hit the streets of Lagos on Monday morning
Our reporters gathered that it was a slow start in the state, as protesters began to gather as early as 8:00am on across designated points.
Ikeja Under Bridge was the takeoff point for the state Central Business District.Protesters, who were sighted by our reporters, were seen displaying banners and placards with different inscriptions.
“Rivers State State of Emergency. We are not in a Military Era…”
“Enough is enough, protest is a constitutional right.”.
“Things are not working. The economy is hard. People are being kidnapped every minute. Everywhere is unsafe. The people.close to the President should tel him the truth. Economy and security are two important indexes to measure the performance of a government,” Comrade Kehinde Adegboyega, the executive Director, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, told our reporter.
There were other unprinted words inscribed on the placards, to demonstrate their displeasure over the reason for the public protest.
“We are not going to make any progress if we allow a democratically elected government to transform itself into a military dictator. It is the right think to seek redress. Nigerian must wake up to this call yo duty, for the sake of all of us,” Comrade Folarin Opeyemi, told our reporter.
From the convergent point at the Ikeja Under Bridge, protesters, marched, in convoy, to Alausa Secretariat, the Lagos State Government sit of power.
They would be marching to Ojota and Freedom.Park afterwards.
Their movements also enjoyed heavy presence of Police Personnel and officers and men of the National Civil Defence Corps and Neighborhood Watch.
There were restrained conduct from the armed law enforcement officials. Many of them were seen receptive and and friendly.
At the Gani Fawehunmi Park at Ojota, the epicenter of public protest in Lagos, there were dozen loads of armed police officers on ground
