Civil rights activist Farotimi has sharply criticized the Nigerian government during the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, describing the country as “pretending to be a democracy.” Speaking amid the heightened tensions following protests demanding the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, Farotimi argued that the government’s actions contradict democratic principles.
He highlighted that despite Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, the state’s response—marked by violent crackdowns, arrests, and restrictions on protests—undermines these freedoms. Farotimi emphasized that the use of court orders to limit protest areas and the deployment of security forces to enforce such restrictions reflect undemocratic practices aimed at silencing dissent.
The activist called on Nigerians and the international community to recognize the erosion of democratic space in the country and to demand accountability and true respect for civil liberties. Farotimi’s comments add to the growing discourse around governance, justice, and human rights in Nigeria, particularly amid controversies surrounding the detention of Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism-related charges.
This perspective underscores the deep divisions within Nigerian society regarding the balance between security measures and citizens’ rights to express political grievances peacefully.
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