TheCable

The senate has asked the protesters demanding the resignation or resumption of President Muhammadu Buhari to pray for him.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abdullahi Sabi, spokesman of the senate, said the anti-Buhari protesters should realise that they are mortals and can find themselves in a situation where they also need medical attention.

“We urge the organisers of the protest to join other Nigerians in praying for the safe return of President Buhari. They should note that any mortal being can find himself in the situation where one needs medical attention and more time to fully recuperate,” he said.

The senate also condemned the action of the police which used force to disperse the protesters, saying people had the right to gather and express their views.

“While we are opposed to the subject of the protest, the senate acknowledges the fact that the protesters have the constitutional right to gather and express their views in a manner that will not breach public peace, order and tranquility. Since the ‘Our-Mumu-Don-Do’ protesters did not conduct themselves in such a manner as to disturb public peace, it is not right for the police to brutalise the people as they reportedly did yesterday,” it said.

“The police should review their rules of engagement and ensure that they are in line with that of modern democratic societies. The rights of the people should not be violated by the police employed to protect these rights. Where the police suspect that hoodlums are trying to hijack the protest, it is the duty of the police to apprehend the hoodlums and those who break the law rather than generalise and thus brutalise innocent protesters.”