LAGOS—THE Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday said it would provide free legal assistance to any Nigerian, that is arrested, while participating in the proposed nation wide strike action to protest the recent hike in prices of petroleum products, slated for October 11, 2004, should government fail to revert to the old prices.
Speaking at a press briefing called by the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) as part of activities line up to sensitize Nigerians on the planned strike, and on the frequent arrest and detention of people that participate in such strike action, the Ikeja NBA Chairman, Adekunle Ojo said, “the gang-up against the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will not defeat it. It is clear that there are assaults on students during strike period, but it is not just the students, but the whole Nigerians that are assaulted”.
According to him, “the NBA Ikeja will participate in the entire strike action, because I have a right to express my grievance. There is no law that ban or stop Nigerians from expressing their grievance. As for any person that will be arrested during the strike, we are assuring Nigerians that we will intervene. We will apply for the bail of anybody arrested on account of the strike. This is a struggle that must be fought to its logical conclusion”.
Earlier, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, who spoke on behalf of the coalition said “we demand an immediate return to the old price of petrol, kerosene and diesel; immediate repair of the refineries and the construction of additional ones; creation of jobs and employment opportunities; a total halt to the devaluation of the naira; the improvement of our schools, including tertiary institutions; the use of the extra money realised from the sales of crude oil to improve the living conditions of Nigerians; prompt and full payment of pensioners and workers and an end to the politicisation of the police and the judiciary”.
According to him, “despite nation wide strikes to resist four attempts, in the last two years, to arbitrary increases in the prices of Kerosene, diesel and petrol, this government has again decreed a rise of 25%, totally ignoring the measured opposition of the people. It has again dared the people hoping that their resistance has waned. It has ignored the cries of the people that their suffering is unbearable; that there is hunger; poverty; homelessness; unemployment; illiteracy; bad roads; poor and erratic electricity supply; lack of portable water and absence of security of lives and property”.
“Nigerians have groaned under the past five years under adverse and excruciating condition. We have watched with anxiety hoping to see improvement in our condition of living, to no avail. Instead on improvement, our people have sunk deeper into poverty and unemployment. What is worst is that we are faced with a vicious dictatorial leadership, shuttling the land, crushing any opposition that dared raised its head”.
He enjoined Nigerians from October 11, 2004 to “join the mass protest starting on that day; mobilise people in your neighbourhood; tell your friends, neighbours and colleagues why they should join the strike; buy and store enough foodstuff and stay at home.”
