President Tinubu to Address the Nation on Independence Day
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to deliver a nationwide address on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 7 a.m. This announcement was made by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The broadcast marks the celebration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary and aims to reflect on the nation’s journey.
Television and radio stations, along with other electronic media platforms, are encouraged to connect with the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for this important broadcast.
HURIWA Appeals for UN Support Amid Planned Protests
In related news, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) is calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene regarding the upcoming protests scheduled for October 1, 2024. These demonstrations aim to address the escalating cost of living and perceived government mismanagement.
HURIWA has raised alarms over reports that the Nigerian government plans to deploy armed security forces to confront peaceful protesters, reminiscent of the violent incidents during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024, where some demonstrators lost their lives.
In a statement from National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organization emphasized that individuals involved in the unlawful killings of peaceful protesters could face accountability at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. They have issued a warning to military and police leaders that they may also be held responsible for any violent actions against protesters.
HURIWA expressed disappointment at the apparent inaction from the international community, including leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden and the Prime Ministers of the UK and Canada, regarding the extrajudicial killings of protesters in Nigeria. They criticized this “conspiratorial silence” as a serious threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
The organization urged the UNHRC to uphold its mandate to protect human rights defenders and ensure that member nations, like Nigeria, adhere to their commitments to fundamental freedoms outlined in various human rights treaties.
