There was a mild drama on
Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday when the President’s
most senior spokesman, Femi Adesina; and the National President of
Revolutionary Lawyers Forum, Mr Tope Akinyode, exchanged words over the
#RevolutionNow protests that took place in various parts of the country on
Wednesday.
Akinyode, who took part in the
protests which were disrupted by security operatives, said the aim of the
demonstrations was to demand good governance, poverty eradication, a stop to
the insecurity and many other issues.
In his response, however, Adesina
described the protests as an irritation and a child’s play.
He said, “Well, was it really a protest? By my estimation, it just seemed like a child’s play because protests by their very nature are spontaneous things, mass things. These are just a sprinkle of people trying to be funny. As far as I am concerned, it is nothing to worry about.
“A revolution is always a mass
thing, not a sprinkle of young boys and girls you saw yesterday (Wednesday) in
different parts of the country. I think it was just a funny thing to call it a
revolution protest.”
When asked if the government
determines the seriousness of a protest only by its size, Adesina responded,
“Revolution is something that turns the normal order. What happened yesterday,
would you call it a revolution?
“It was just an irritation, just
an irritation and some people want to cause irritation in the country and what
I will say is when things boil over, they boil over because you continue to
heat them.”
However, Akinyode mocked Adesina
for having a shallow understanding of the concept of revolution despite being a
veteran journalist.
The lawyer said, “We have to
forgive Mr. Adesina and the Buhari government for all the things they speak.
They don’t understand these things. They are bereft of the fundamental workings
of democracy and the rule of law. They don’t know what protest means, they
can’t appreciate it
“Buhari is a dictator. He doesn’t
obey court orders so he doesn’t know that Nigerians or the people have the
right to protest which is why Mr. Adesina was continuously talking down on
Nigerians, saying it was a child’s play and an irritation.”
Akinyode said Buhari’s regime
seemed to be dedicated to failure hence its aversion to criticism.
The lawyer wondered why unarmed
protests would be attacked by soldiers and policemen for demanding good
governance.
He said, “I am disappointed by
the myopic definition that Mr. Adesina gave the word revolution especially
being a journalist who should have fundamental knowledge of the English
Language. Revolution has many meanings to it. You cannot attach a single
meaning to the word.
“For those who have a deficiency
in the use of English, revolution can also mean an improvement, an advancement
in a system which has a positive long-lasting impact. The demands of the
protester are well articulated. They are engaging the government in its
failings – unemployment, insecurity, non-payment of minimum wage N30,000 and
many other things.
“And if the protesters are
demanding the removal of the present government that is constituted, it is a
constitutionally guaranteed right. The law allows for impeachment of any
validly elected government and for a government that has woefully failed, is it
not right for it to resign?”
Adesina, who appeared irked by
Akinyode’s response, however, took issue with Channels Television for pairing
him with “such a character”.
He said henceforth, the TV
station must let him know who he is up against when next he is invited to a
programme.
The President’s spokesman said,
“Let me make this point. Channels TV should have been ethical and professional
enough to tell me that I was appearing with somebody and then I could decide
whether to appear or not to appear.
“The way this young man is
talking, if I had a chance, I wouldn’t want to share a platform with him
because he is irascible, he is irrational and he doesn’t understand and I could
have decided whether to appear with him or not.”
Akinyode, however, stated that he
was a lawyer and a learned individual.
“It is not just the way Mr.
Adesina sees it, that I am a young guy. I am a lawyer and I have an
understanding of the law. It is a constitutionally guaranteed right of
Nigerians to protest. It is the law,” he replied.
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