Osun State based rights activist, Dunsin Olowolafe, has condemned the Buhari administration for ordering the freezing of bank accounts owned by #EndSARS protesters and promoters, saying if the Nigerian Government is good at history, it would have known that its actions against the protesters would only strengthen them the more.
Olowolafe made the statement in reaction to the exparte order obtained by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to freeze the accounts of 20 individuals and an organisation linked to the #EndSARS campaign, as reported by Premium Times.
The court order was addressed to the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank.
Amongst those affected are Bolatito Racheal Oduala, Chima David Ibebunjoh, Mary Doose Kpengwa, Saadat Temitope Bibi, Bassey Victor Israel, Wisdom Busaosowo Obi, Nicholas Ikhalea Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Lanre Yusuf, Uhuo Ezenwanyi Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.
Olowolafe said, “In the process of what the government might see as crushing the forces of revolution against the possibility of another mass protest just like the EndSARS, unknowing to it, it might yet be accelerating the journey to its final days by repressing the voice of a popular cause.”
“This method of repression from government authorities/institutions are not new, however I cannot but keep asking myself if they never learn from history. And, let’s assume history is too far a scope. The Recent EndSars protest is a good example to show that repression does not deter a determined people. Rather, it motivates them to do more.
“One would be expect a government that is aiming to avoid such a scenario as the EndSars to put more efforts into bettering the governance system, rather it deposits its strength into violating people’s right – which in itself is a justification of the protest in the protest and will be a justification for future protests – as long as bad governance persists.”