The Protesters alleged that the authorities in Tehran smarting from their failures and revelations of their avid sponsorship of terrorism across the globe are attempting to spread their tentacles to the African continent by all means necessary.
Hence, Nigerian protesters took to the streets of the FCT, Abuja, demanding the expulsion of Iranians, Amnesty International and others fingered to be destabilising the country.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs Josephine Okpara called on the appropriate agencies of government to deport all Iranians from the country, saying their continued stay in Nigeria is of no benefit to the nation.
After Monday’s peaceful rally to the Iranian Embassy, led by the Concerned Citizens Coalition (CCC), these Nigerians, on Tuesday, took its displeasure to Amnesty International’s office.
In a statement by Convener, Mohammed Shuaibu, the group said it is time for A.I to leave as it has overtime acted against the nation’s interest.
According to Mr Shuaibu, Amnesty International entered a strategic pact with the Iranian government to provide protection for Islamic Movement in Nigeria and other militant groups. While urging the security agencies to act fast, the Concerned Citizens advised A.I to “take their loot from Iran to other gullible countries where they can act as they wish.”
Failure to do so, however, the CCC added that Nigerians would indeed hold it responsible should there be a resurgence of violent and criminal activities in the country.
The statement read; “We come in peace as Concerned Citizens of Nigeria in Nigeria under the umbrella of The Concerned Citizens Coalition with an overarching objective to promote the ideals of good governance and a strong and viable Nigeria through the instrument of advocacy.
“We are gathered here in accordance with this mandate to protect the interest of Nigeria against those individuals and organizations that are conspiring to truncate our nascent democracy and ultimately set Nigeria on the path of disintegration.
“We have stated in numerous forums that indeed, some organizations in Nigeria are acting against our interest by masquerading under acclaimed international organizations working in the interest of the enthronement of peace, while in truth, they are nothing but agents to some foreign countries that do not want the progress of Nigeria.
“We boldly wish to state that Amnesty International (AI) and its operations in Nigeria have indeed been a source of concern for most Nigerians in the sense that they have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of progress in Nigeria through their often unsubstantiated reports and releases tuned to set Nigeria on the path of disintegration.
“That Amnesty International has continued to remain in Nigeria is a great disservice to us as a people and as a country due to the multiple pieces of evidence that indicate that it is indeed working for vested interest and, as such, lost its credibility in all ramifications.
“The Concerned Citizens Coalition is not oblivious of the recently hatched plot by the Government of Iran to cause chaos in Nigeria through the sponsorship of proxy groups and organizations to undertake ventures that are inimical to the interest of Nigeria and also injurious to our nascent democracy.
“We wish to state that the Government of Iran has indeed committed a colossal sum of monies in this regard, and some of the beneficiaries are Amnesty International, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and other proxy groups that are springing up in various parts of the country under different curious nomenclatures.
“We wish to state that the Government of Iran has indeed committed a colossal sum of monies in this regard, and some of the beneficiaries are Amnesty International, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and other proxy groups that are springing up in various parts of the country under different curious nomenclatures.
“We are indeed aware that Amnesty International has entered a strategic pact with the Government of Iran to provide protection for the IMN and other militant groups that have been established for the sole purpose of causing mayhem in the country.
“This fact is undeniably inimical to the peace and stability of Nigeria, and there is no moral justification for such an organization to continue to operate in Nigeria under whatever guise.
“This is also aside from the numerous ways Amnesty International has attempted to cause crisis in Nigeria through its propagandist reports tailored to suit their paymasters.
This position was what gave rise to the calls for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria in times past, and it seems they cannot desist from their intention against the Nigerian state.
AI called it a sponsored protest against the organisation in Nigeria by those trampling on fundamental human rights of the helpless Nigerians.
An NGO, Socio-Economic Rights Advocacy Project (SERAP) condemns the sponsored protest targeting AII, urged Nigerian government to ensure that AI and other NGOs can operate freely and without any harassment.
@SERAPNigeria: We strongly condemn the apparently sponsored protest today targeting
@AmnestyNigeria and putting the security and safety of their staff members and others at risk. The Nigerian authorities must ensure that AI and other NGOs can operate freely and without any harassment.
@SERAPNigeria: We strongly condemn the apparently sponsored protest today targeting
@AmnestyNigeria and putting the security and safety of their staff members and others at risk. The Nigerian authorities must ensure that AI and other NGOs can operate freely and without any harassment.
Then the protest against Iran and AI in Nigeria must have been sponsored by Saudi Arabia and its proxies. This #IranMustGo hashtag can only be seen as part of the politics and propaganda of a Sunni dominated Nigeria.
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