The leaders of Equity International Initiatives,(EII), which led the Monday protest against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination in Edo State, on Tuesday, said they were invited for interrogation by the State Security Service, (SSS), after their demonstration against Governor Godwin Obaseki’s directive to make the presentation of vaccination certificates as tickets to access public places.
Addressing a press conference in Benin City, the convener of EII, Chris Iyama, said they were not in the least moved by the invitation from the security outfit, insisting that the seven-day ultimatum given to the state government to rescind its decision remained sacrosanct and became even more valid by the injunction from the Federal High Court in Rivers State restraining the government from going ahead with its plans.
“We were invited by the SSS after our demonstration on Monday. We told them that having a rally is our right as enshrined in the constitution and to us as Nigerians, it is our right.
“We told them the ultimatum we have given to the state government stands and after the seven days ultimatum, we are going to mobilise Edo people back to the government house but I am sure that with what we have done so far, the governor will have a rethink because we know he is listening and I believe with the court judgment they may not go ahead,” Iyama said.
“We told the SSS they should tell the governor our position since we have met with him. We came out very calm; we will remain calm even in the face of oppression. We are not cowards, we know how to demand our rights,” he reiterated.
Also, a clergy, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, carpeted the state leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for supporting the position of the governor saying “CAN has no right under its own constitution to align with the government to force us as Christians, as ministers to be vaccinated.”
Speaking on the suit instituted in Rivers State, lead counsel to EII, John Okhuihievbe, said “In arguing the Motions in Suit No. FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021 filed by Mr Charles Osaretin against the Governor of Edo State and five others and dated the 30th of August, 2021, the Learned Senior Counsel, Echezona Etiaba, SAN urged the Court to Order parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for the Enforcement of the Applicant’s Fundamental Rights.
“The Orders were granted as prayed. The court adjourned to the 10th of September, 2021 for hearing of the Substantive Motion.”
A circular had surfaced late Monday which indicated that the state government through the HOS had mandated civil servants across the state to either take the vaccines or stay from office.
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