The National Assembly Has Become A National Embarrassment, We Cannot Depend On Them — Inibehe Effiong

*He Calls On Citizens To Be United Against Excessive
Lawlessness

Inibehe Effiong, human rights lawyer, says the national assembly
is not dependable and has become a “national embarrassment”.

Effiong said this on Tuesday at the 13th Wole Soyinka Centre
media lecture series titled ‘Remaking Nigeria: Towards a Secure and
Viable Union’.

He said civil society organisations, journalists, student unions
and public interest lawyers must do what is needed to ensure the
rule of law in the country.

He commended media organisations for rejecting the proposed
amendments to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts.

Effiong said Nigerians must continue to challenge “executive
impunity” when the situation arises.

“The battle to salvage our country, the battle to rescue or
revive the soul of our nation lies squarely with the Nigerian
people, because the national assembly has become a national
embarrassment. We cannot depend on the parliament,” he said.

“We shouldn’t pretend about these things. We shouldn’t be
diplomatic about it, because those who are oppressing us are not
diplomatic. So, we must speak to them in the language they
understand.

“Nigerians must take up the fight either through public interest
litigation. We must continue to challenge executive impunity. And I
must also say kudos to the Nigerian press for the solidarity we saw
yesterday. That is the language they understand.”

Effiong added that citizens need to be united against “excessive
lawlessness exercised by the government”.

“Part of the problem we have as a country is the idea that
protest is not helpful. You may have your own interpretation about
the #EndSARS protest, the ups and the downs, but one lesson of
history from the protest is that a truly people united can never be
defeated,” he said.

“The day the Nigerian people say they have had it enough, there
is no military deployment, ‘crocodile smile’ or ‘dancing python’
that will be able to suppress the determination of our people.”

*He Calls On Citizens To Be United Against Excessive
Lawlessness

Inibehe Effiong, human rights lawyer, says the national assembly
is not dependable and has become a “national embarrassment”.

Effiong said this on Tuesday at the 13th Wole Soyinka Centre
media lecture series titled ‘Remaking Nigeria: Towards a Secure and
Viable Union’.

He said civil society organisations, journalists, student unions
and public interest lawyers must do what is needed to ensure the
rule of law in the country.

He commended media organisations for rejecting the proposed
amendments to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts.

Effiong said Nigerians must continue to challenge “executive
impunity” when the situation arises.

“The battle to salvage our country, the battle to rescue or
revive the soul of our nation lies squarely with the Nigerian
people, because the national assembly has become a national
embarrassment. We cannot depend on the parliament,” he said.

“We shouldn’t pretend about these things. We shouldn’t be
diplomatic about it, because those who are oppressing us are not
diplomatic. So, we must speak to them in the language they
understand.

“Nigerians must take up the fight either through public interest
litigation. We must continue to challenge executive impunity. And I
must also say kudos to the Nigerian press for the solidarity we saw
yesterday. That is the language they understand.”

Effiong added that citizens need to be united against “excessive
lawlessness exercised by the government”.

“Part of the problem we have as a country is the idea that
protest is not helpful. You may have your own interpretation about
the #EndSARS protest, the ups and the downs, but one lesson of
history from the protest is that a truly people united can never be
defeated,” he said.

“The day the Nigerian people say they have had it enough, there
is no military deployment, ‘crocodile smile’ or ‘dancing python’
that will be able to suppress the determination of our people.”