Nigerian politician and former Senator Shehu Sani has expressed strong views on the ongoing sit-at-home protests in parts of Nigeria, condemning the use of force and violence to coerce citizens into compliance.
In a statement shared on his verified Twitter account, Sani emphasized that while sit-at-home protests are a legitimate and peaceful form of civil disobedience, they lose their moral standing when people are forced to participate through threats or violence.
“Sit-at-home protest is a peaceful and legitimate form of civil disobedience or resistance. People have the right to voluntarily sit at home in order to advance their cause or to register their objections,” Sani wrote. He highlighted that citizens should have the freedom to choose whether to participate in such actions, without fear of intimidation.
However, Sani criticized the violent methods reportedly used to enforce the protests, labeling them as “another form of tyranny or terror.” According to him, forcing people to stay at home with threats undermines the very principles of peaceful resistance. He argued that if a cause is genuinely popular and embraced by the masses, people would voluntarily participate without needing to be coerced.
Sani’s comments come amid rising concerns over the sit-at-home orders being enforced in the southeastern region of Nigeria, where some groups have resorted to violent tactics to ensure compliance. These protests, which are often linked to the agitation for Biafra, have paralyzed economic activities and instilled fear in local communities.