By Leshi Adebayo
A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has reacted to the claim by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed that some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working against Nigeria’s stability, describing it as false and unfounded.
This was contained in a statement on Friday, and signed by the directors of 4 CSOs namely, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Paradigm Initiative (PIN).
The minister, speaking recently at ‘Radio Link’, a phone-in programme of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), had claimed that some Nigerian NGOs were working against the nation’s interests, citing SERAP’s Twitter suspension lawsuit against the Federal Government as an example.
Racting to the Mohammed’s allegations, the CSOs noted the move to challenge the FG in court by the NGOs over the indefinite Twitter suspension, was only an exercise of their constitutional rights.
The statement read in part, “Nothing could be further from the truth than the minister’s wild claims and allegations. We reject the allegation that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other NGOs that sued the Nigerian Government are working to destabilise Nigeria or against the country’s interest.
“We condemn the statement as a reckless attempt to incite Nigerians against NGOs and undermine their credibility.”
Explaining further, the CSOs opined that the NGOs are the ones trying to save Nigeria as opposed to the minister’s claim. They stated that it was wrong for the minister to think that his position gives him the right to be the ‘accuser’, ‘judge’ and ‘jury’.
“Mr Mohammed apparently believes that being a Minister gives him the authority to be the accuser, judge and jury and that anyone who disagrees with him or criticises him, or the government he serves, is an enemy of the state.
“He could not be more wrong! In a constitutional democracy, citizens have a right and indeed a responsibility, either individually or in groups, to criticise their government and to insist that the government respects their fundamental rights and freedoms, within the laws of the land,” they said.
The CSOs said they were certain that the government’s action were ‘illegal and unwarranted’ and challenged the minister to release the list of NGOs working against the nation.
“We challenge him to release the list of these NGOs, along with those that are, according to him, “not working for the interests of the people of the nation” and proceed to prosecute them in accordance with Nigeria’s laws,” they said.
They assured Nigerians that they would not relent in their support for Nigeria’s democracy and upholding of the fundamental human rights of the citizens as stated in the amended 1999 Constitution of the nation.
