“Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be there eating.” — Godswill Akpabio
While Womanifesto, a coalition of over 300 women rights activists, advocates and organizations has not only endorsed but declared its intention to join the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest slated for 1 August, 2024, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed disdain for the protesters saying, “those interested in the protest can go ahead “but let us be there eating.”
Akpabio spoke at an event organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday in Rivers state.
His comment comes on the heels of the planned which organisers said would take off on August 1 and end August 10.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, met with some of the organisers on Tuesday in Abuja, appealing to them for virtual protest but they insisted on going to the streets.
However, during the NDDC event, Akpabio said he was not interested in any “regime change”.
“All of us feel the impact of what is happening now. But we are aware it will be for a short while. MD, I want to thank you for what you said. You said we are not interested in regime change, let us own this government.
“Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be there eating — I must thank the Niger Delta”, he added.
He added, “We acknowledge the fact that the impact of oil and gas activities in our region has done immeasurable damage to our people.”
Meanwhile Womanifesto issued a Press Statement dated 30th July, 2024.
WOMANIFESTO JOINS #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTS IN NIGERIAN, OPENS SITUATION ROOM
Womanifesto, a body of over 300 women rights activists, advocates and organizations, declares that it will join the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest in Nigeria to demand for accountability and good governance devoid of harassment and intimidation. As working professionals, thought leaders, human rights advocates and mothers, we identify with the suffering of Nigerians fuelled by high inflation, low purchasing power, high cost of electricity and fuel as well as wasteful spending by governments at federal, state and local government levels. Nigerians are tired,hungry and disgruntled.
It is disheartening that several government officials, state and non-state actors have made numerous attempts to label this protest as a coup, treason, or insurrection. The propaganda is loud, deliberately provoking and incongrous. Across the world, civil liberty and the right to gather is protected by law; and the same applies in Nigeria. We reject all spoken or insinuated attempts to bully Nigerians into silence. Such oppressive antics will be firmly resisted by Nigerians.
In a bid to provoke their supporters to harrass #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protesters, Womanifesto has watched with dismay attempts by various elements to misrepresent the history and facts about the 2020 ENDSARS protest led by the Nigerian youth. It is the truth that following prolonged assault, harassment and killings by security agents especially from the Nigerian police, youths rose up to protest. The protest is documented as being largely peaceful across the country until the infiltration of thugs and criminals, most of whom are believed to be politically sponsored. The attending looting and destruction is also directly linked to the revelations of government personnel, institutions and traditional leaders hoarding food relief or palliatives, meant for their communities.
Attempts to minimize the pains of Nigerians and their desire and right to display grievances through protests will be resisted by Womanifesto. Civil Society Organisations, lawyers and human rights advocates under Womanifesto stand with the Nigerian people’s constitutional right to gather without fear of harassment. We demand that the Nigerian police protects peaceful protesters across the country. Commendably, the Nigerian police as well as the State Security Service have announced that threats to peace have been identified. We anticipate that these identified threats will be prevented from attacking Nigerians during the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest. This is the duty of the police to Nigerians.
We understand the agitations of governments across Africa as citizens stand up to demand the good governance they voted for. It is however unbecoming that instead of addressing the situation, some persons possibly under the influence of the government have taken to the streets to protest the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest. We have also read of threats by state and non-state actors, to attack protesters and fulfil their own prophecy of doom. We call on the police to swing into action and call these persons to order.
We are sending a notification to the Nigerian military to stay off civil matters such as protests. There will not be a repeat of 2020, when the police and military killed our children, sisters and brothers. The President, state governors and the Nigerian security apparatus, especially the Nigeria police, will be held responsible for any single injury or loss incurred during this protest.
Womanifesto demands that the federal government addresses the nation, itemizing tangible and measurable short, mid and long term plans to ameliorate the general economic hardship in the country. We will expect this plan to include clearly spelt out timelines which we will monitor, evaluate outcomes and suggest further steps to be taken by both the government and the citizens.
Womanifesto will therefore open a Situation Room to record and report the protests across all states. Our team of lawyers will also be on standby to take cases of intimidation of citizens. We will announce hotlines which citizens can call if distressed. These hotlines will be open 24 hours from August 1st when the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest will begin. We will also take live reports from citizens via our social media pages of Womanifesto secretariat
Instagram- @womenadvocate
X(Twitter)- @womenadvocate
Facebook- Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
WhatsApp- +234 818 005 6401
As we anticipate the protest, we call on Nigerians to be peaceful during the demonstrations and shun the destruction of lives and property. We hope that government at all levels will recognize the pain of the citizens and rise up to the occasion as duty calls. We condemn Lagos State Government and the IGP attempt to restrict the movement of protesters and we were clear about our dissatisfaction during the meeting with the IGP on the 30th July that it’s illegitimate for the police to define and restrict Nigerians during protest, processions and rallies are part of fundamental rights to association and movement and there is no threat to public peace . We urge that the government complies with the wish of suffering Nigerians
Signed
Convener
Womanifesto
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
For and on behalf of
9jafeminista
Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls
Above Whispers Foundation
Action Aid Nigeria
ACTS Generation GBV
Ade Grange Child Foundation
ADEM Community Human Development Foundation
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
Ajegunle Community Project
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
Alliances for Africa
Amazing Grace Inspirations
Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
Amnesty International Nigeria
ARDA Development Communication Inc.
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.
ASWHAN
AYO Fadugba Kilimanjaro Youth Foundation
ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)
Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN)
Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)
AWEP
ANWIB
AWFAN
FEBWE
FEDAN
BLECCA Foundation
Bring Back Our Girls
Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
Cece Yara Foundation
Cedar Seed Foundation
CEE-HOPE Nigeria
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Change Managers International Network
Center for Women’s Health and Information
Centre for Media and Development Communications
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)
Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)
Choung-Dung Women Association.
Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
Community and Youth Development
Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society
Community Life Project (CLP)
Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
Community Women Initiatives (CWI)
Country Associates Network (CAN)
Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)
CWEMA
Daria Media Foundation (DMF)
Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
Diaspora Womanifesto201
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
Dinidari Foundation
Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
Edo Women’s Development Initiative
Education As A Vaccine (EVA)
EiE Nigeria
Emerge Women (EW)
Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)
Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
FACICP Disability Plus
FAME Foundation
Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
FIDA Nigeria
First Future Leadership
FOMWAN
Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
Forum of Women in Politics (FONWIP)
FRED
FEDAN
Gender Action Awareness Trust
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Gender and Development Action (GADA)
Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender Development Initiative
Gender Equality Center
Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)
Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Green Spring Development Initiative
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation
Heal Disability Initiative
Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative
Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria(HERFON)
HEIR Women Development (HWD)
Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development
Hope for New Life (HNL)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)Nigeria
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)
International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)
International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)
Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)
Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
Jana Health Foundation (JHF)
Julie Oyegun
Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)
Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
KMashi Gamji Women
Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)
League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
LEDAP
Lift Initiative
League of Queens International Empowerment
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)
MBULA Women Association
Media &Teens Network
Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children
Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and Children
MODAC
Mothers United and Mobilised (MUMs)
More Women in Politics
My Voice My Future NGO
Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)
NAWE
NNEW
NAWORG
Nigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
National Centre for Women Development
National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)
NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women
Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN
Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)
NEWA
NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society
Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
Nigeria For Women Project
Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee
Nigerian Express
Nigerian Women Politics Forum
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)
Ogun Women Alive
Okwuzi Women Forum
Olive Community Development Initiatives
Onomese Foundation
Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD)
Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
Ovie Brume Foundation
Partners West Africa
Peasant Dragnet
Princess Olufemi-Kayode
Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
Project Alert on Violence Against Women
Ray of Hope Community Foundation
Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Sesor Empowerment Foundation
She Forum Africa
Safe Space Initiative
Save a Child Lend a Hand Foundation
Sheforshe Africa Initiative
She Mentors Initiative
Shout Global Health
Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)
South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
Support For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI)
TechHerNG
THR Media
The Inclusion Project (TIP)
The Priceless Jewels
Foundation
The Purple Foundation
The Kilimanjaro
THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE
Tonia Bruised but Not Broken Foundation
Transformation and Development Center (TDC)
Transition Monitoring Group
Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)
UC Women Commission
UTO Foundation
Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI)
Voice of Ogun Women (VOW)
West African Network for Peace
WEWENETWORK AFRIQUE
WEPDN
Widows Development Organization (WIDO)
Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC)
Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)
Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)
Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)
Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
Women in Mining
Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative
Women Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)
Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI)
Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)
Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI)
Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)
Women for Women International (W4WI)
Women Foundation Initiative (WFI)
Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC)
Former Women Action Organization (WAO)
Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)
Women in Agriculture (WIA)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Women in Politics Forum (WiPF)
Women Information Network (WINET)
Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)
Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)
Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)
Women Lead Agric (WLA)
Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Women of Vision Development Initiative
Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN)
Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program
Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF
Women Right to Education Programme (WREP)
Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri
Women’s Rights and Health Project
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
Working Moms Africa (WMA)
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
Women Initiative on Climate change
Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)
Women in Management Buisness and Public Service (WIMBIZ)
WISCAR
Women Democracy Network Africa – Nigeria
WomenPreneurs (AWEBO)
Yiaga Africa
Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI)
Zonta International Club of Lagos 1
50MAWSP
100 Women Lobby Group (100WLG)
Released from Womanifesto Secretariat:
By Convener Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
C/O Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) office, No. 17 Iwopin Street, off Ondo Street, Behind Area 1 Shopping Complex, Garki Abuja
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone Number: 08055951858
