Group Condemns Disruption of “Peace Walk” against Impunity in Nigeria

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The Stop Impunity Nigeria (S.I.N.) Campaign on November 21, 2013 condemned security agencies’ disruption, that day, of its “Peace Walk” in Abuja. The peace walk was part of activities marking its “Week of Action Against Impunity” with a focus on wastage in public finance management. The Campaigned expressed its condemnation in a statement it issued to protest the high-handiness of security agents during the peaceful walk against the participants in the walk.

Ms Tule Tatiana receiving treatment at the hospital

The S.I.N Campaign launched the “Week of Action Against Impunity” on November 18, during which it outlined a series of “Peace Walks” and other activities in major cities across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria to protest the high cost of governance and wastage in the public finance management sector in Nigeria. The Campaign, in its statement, likened the tyrannical manner in which the “Peace Walks” were disrupted by policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja, to that which was witnessed during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

The Campaign stressed that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of movement to all Nigerians. It added that these rights are guaranteed in a multiplicity of domestic and international instruments binding on Nigeria. It asserted that: “In furtherance of these rights, the S.I.N. Campaign, Citizens Wealth Platform and ‘Say No’ Campaign mobilized Nigerians in Abuja for a Peace Walk against Impunity in Public Finance Management.” The Campaign asked: “… where is this ‘above’ from which illegal orders always come from?”

The group demanded to see the difference between President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and that of the late dictator, General Sani Abacha. The group therefore demanded an unequivocal public apology, compensation and guarantees of non repetition.

Activities marking the ‘Week of Action Against Impunity’ culminated in a national “Day of Action Against Impunity” on Saturday, November 23, which coincided with this year’s International Day to End Impunity.