Bar Forum Decries Detention Of Critics, Food Traders’ Strike, Others

A group of legal Practitioners under the aegis of Eti-Osa Bar Forum has raised questions over the disappearance of critics, making reference to the incident SALIHU TANKO-YAKASSAI.

During a press conference addressed by the Bar Forum through its Chairman, ,OLADOTUN HASSAN, ESQ., the group addressed other issues as it concerns national development and the continual descent of the country.

Our Correspondent, Adeola Abiola was there to cover their stance on disappearance of critics, Food Traders’ Strike, Dangling sword of fuel hike among others.

Excerpt:

DISAPPEARANCE OF CRITICS IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

To prove our earlier claims of the descent to dictatorship, the disappearance and detention of SALIHU TANKO-YAKASSAI , former Media Aide to Governor Ganduje of Kano State brought to fore the real picture of deplorable state of human rights to the world.

The fact that SALIHU TANKO-YAKASSAI has now been released from the Department of State Services does not detract from the fact that a critic of President Muhammadu Buhari was hounded into detention in the manner he was treated.

Similar cases of disapppearance of critics such as one Dandiyata leaves much to be expected. As a Forum of legal practitioners, we want to let the regime know that disappearance under international law is a crime against humanity. The United Nations has defined “DISAPPEARANCE” to mean among other things. “secret arrest , abduction and detention”. This culture of disapppearance of critics should be resisted by all civic organisations.

DEBACLE OF FOOD TRADERS’ STRIKE,

We have also observed the debacle of rise in foodstuff prices as a result of the ongoing strike by Amalgamated Union of Food Traders.

While we welcome every means of agitation by sections of society including through strikes and protests, we are of the view that BLOCKADE OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA is not the way to go.

Such a sectarian , ethno-religious approach to struggle will only fan the embers of deepening divisions among the Nigerian people.

We call on government
to meet the economic demands of the Amalgamated Food Traders’ Union on Compensation for the deaths of members. We also call on the Amalgamated Food Traders’ Union to build a pan-Nigerian mass support for their economic demands and shed sectarian and ethno-religious methods.

DWINDLING ECONOMY AND DANGLING SWORD OF FUEL PRICE HIKE:

At the face of growing dictatorship is a plummeting economy. The Naira exchanges for the Dollar at 470 naira. The Nigerian Stock Exchange recorded one of its lowest trading turnover in a decade on March 1st, 2020.

At the face of all this, there is indication that the Nigerian government
intends to increase fuel price. This is more or less adding more to the burdens of the people.

We welcome the decision of the Nigerian Labour Congress to hold a Nationwide protest on Wednesday, 10th March, 2021 against the planned fuel price hike. We call for more civic actions against this anti-people economic attack.

IS NIGERIA ON A SOJOURN TO THE ABYSS?

The country is deeply divided today more than any other time in history. We are of the view that there is urgent need to rescue the country from the forces driving it to the abyss.

We reiterate our call for converted efforts by all civic organisations to call the political elite driving the country to abyss to order.