Following recent protests calling for the release of Sahara Reporters founder, Omoyele Sowore, the Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance (IDGG) has raised an alarm over the upsurge of misleading Pro-Democracy organisations purportedly defending human rights in the country.
The group gave this warning on Saturday in Abuja to address what it described as the “Upsurge of Private Enterprises as Pro-Democracy Fighters”.
Speaking on behalf of IDGG, Executive Director, Comrade Joseph Idoko described the trend as “worrisome” and “dangerous” for the entrenchment of democracy in the country.
The group reckoned this is the handiwork of politicians who are hell-bent on making the country ungovernable having lost relevance in the nation’s political space.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance, therefore, called on security agencies to begin the profiling of these “overnight groups to nip in the bud their nefarious activities”.
Read full statement below:
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance is compelled to call this press conference in light of the sudden upsurge of groups under various nomenclatures parading themselves as pro-democracy groups and fighting for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
This is indeed a worrisome trend given the fact that some persons and individuals have turned pro-democratic activities in a private enterprise where they can smile to the bank, not minding whose ox is gored.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance views the trend as dangerous for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria due to the tendency for disgruntled politicians to hijack the system and wreak havoc of unimaginable proportion.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance is also alarmed by the way and manner these supposed pro-democracy groups has carried on with such legitimately, even when it is glaring that the quest for monetary benefits buoys actions and activities.
The danger of this is that those interests against the progress of Nigeria can easily use these supposed pro-democracy groups to make the Country ungovernable in exchange for monetary gains.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance suspects that there is a likelihood that the emergence of these groups is the handiwork of politicians who have lost out in the present political arrangement in the Country and, as such, one of the ways to get their pound of flesh is to instigate crisis.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance wishes to use this medium to bring to the notice of the relevant authorities in Nigeria that the various groups parading themselves as pro-democracy groups are nothing but an outright fraud which is inimical to the national interest.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance consequently charge the various security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, begins the profiling of these “overnight” groups to nip in the bud their nefarious activities.
The overall implication of the activities of these groups is that they would avail themselves as willing tools to those that are bent on seeing to the disintegration of Nigeria.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance wishes to also bring to the notice of the generality of Nigerians that these groups are extremely against the interest of Nigeria. As such, they should view with a pinch of salt, any form of advocacy coming from them.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance believes that should the relevant authorities fail to act in good stead, Nigeria might be dealing with a more significant challenge in the nearest future.
The Initiative for Democracy and Good Governance as a result of this state in unequivocal terms that the unity and progress of Nigeria are sacrosanct and all those masquerading under various pro-democracy nomenclatures to enrich their pockets should desist from such private enterprises in the interest of national security.
