By Khalid Idris Doya
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Initiative for Liberalization of Physically Challenged People In Nigeria, Hamza Waziri has expressed disgust on the way and manner he was Thursday assaulted by police personnel at the commencement of #EndbadGovernance protest in Bauchi.
He said, "Imagine a world where exercising your constitutional right to peaceful protest is met with violence and brutality. This is the unfortunate reality that I personally faced today in broad daylight when I staged a peaceful protest in front of Bauchi State Government House".
Hamza Waziri, while speaking with LEADERSHIP on Friday in response to the alleged treatment meted him by the police personnel via an online video, said that he was exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest when some police officers bounced on him during the civic exercise in an area close to the Government House, Bauchi.
He asked why, "Simply for standing up for my rights, basic human rights. I was assaulted by the police, one of them was named AS Shira.The police, the very institution meant to protect and serve us citizens, responded with violence and cruelty, with no regard for decency".
Waziri gave out reasons for joining the national protest as purely out of desperation because of the worsening situation faced by the disabled persons living in Bauchi state.
"The reason for my protest itself was out of pure desperation because of the worsening situation faced by disabled persons in my State. There are no jobs for us, no equal opportunities that the Disability Law in Nigeria mandates."
The physically challenged Waziri explained that it was discrimination and complete disregard to disabled persons that forced him to stage a peaceful protest as last resort to their plight when he was eventually manhandled and disrespected.
"Discrimination and complete disregard has forced me to stage a peaceful protest as my last resort and even here I was manhandled and disrespected. It is extremely disheartening and makes me feel angry, sad and pathetic about the rights in my country".
Waziri cited out, "This horrible incident is directly in breach of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution that allows peaceful protest. This calls for our collective outrage and action and we must demand accountability. It is a shame that this needs to be said but no one should face such violence for seeking justice".
Meanwhile, the Bauchi state government has expressed concern over the incident by an online video of an infraction involving a person with disability and security personnel at a cordoned area of Government House.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado Mohammed on Friday, said the welfare and rights of all citizens, especially vulnerable groups, were of paramount importance to the administration.
It said, “We wish to categorically state that the Bauchi State Government under the inspirational leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed does not condone any form of violence or misconduct by law enforcement officers attached to the Government House or any government personnel.”
Mohammed added that the government will initiate a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain the facts.
He assured the public that if the officers involved were found to have acted improperly, they will be held accountable and face the full wrath of the law.
Mohammed stressed that the state government remains committed to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights.
He therefore urged the public to remain calm and abide by all rules and regulations, especially relating to the protests and processions during the nationwide hunger protest.
(LEADERSHIP)
0 Comments