Civil Society wants IGP to investigates alleged police disruption of APC rally
By Olorunfemi Ojo
A civil society organisation, Centre for Rights And Grassroots Intiative, CRGI, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate alleged police disruption of All Progressive Party, APC mega rally in Ilesa, Osun State.
The group made the call in a public petition written and signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Ekujumi,
In the petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police and copied, The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, South West Zonal Office, Ikeja, Lagos. the group wrote:
“With due regards, I have the pleasure and mandate of the governing board of the Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) to intimate you with the organization which is a civil society body at the forefront of the societal struggle for good governance and observance of the rule of law in our national life.
“We wish to use this medium to draw your attention to and call for an investigation into the flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of Nigerians to assemble as guaranteed under the 1999 constitution by men of the Nigeria Police who disrupted a peaceful rally of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Tuesday 15th July 2014 in Ilesha Osun state at the Ijesha South Federal Constituency mega rally of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola through indiscriminate firing of canisters of teargas at people without provocation.
“We are well aware of the constitutional responsibility of the Nigeria Police to protect lives and properties and as well ensure societal peace through professional, disciplined and orderly conduct in the discharge of its duty.
“Therefore, this indisciplined and unconstitutional violation of the rights of the people by the Nigeria police constitutes a dent on its image and is a serious breach of the constitution which is the responsibility of the Police to ensure its strict observance.
“We have also observed that the canisters of tear-gas fired at people at the peaceful political rally are without identification label in order to determine its source and manufacturer which calls to question the security sense of our Police.
“The Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) is hereby using this medium Sir, to call on you to use your good office to immediately investigate this constitutional breach and ensure that justice is done in this matter.”
