A revolutionary civil rights movement group identified as Freedom Ambassadors Organization has retorted the Edo State Government’s decision to make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory in the state.
The group in a Communique duly signed by the National Coordinator of the group Comrade Curtis Ogbebor, conveyed to Daily Report Nigeria on Sunday vehemently condemned the obligation set for the Covid-19 vaccination by the Government for the Edo citizens, describing it as inhumane and infringement on fundamental human rights.
The group portended that they will use every possible actions within the confines of the law to resist the state government’s enforcement and defend the rights of the citizens.
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Ogbebor strongly opined that the exercise should be made voluntary to citizens as it is in Europe and America.
The Communique, thus:
“COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF FREEDOM AMBASSADORS ORGANIZATION ON RESOLUTIONS MADE DURING OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING HELD ON 28TH AUGUST 2021 ON THE ISSUE OF EDO STATE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 COMPULSORY VACCINATION OF EDO STATE CITIZENS AND THE WORSENING INSECURITY IN THE STATE
“The leadership and members of Freedom Ambassadors Organization, a Revolutionary Civil rights movement in Nigeria domicile in Edo State wish to emphatically state that the position of Governor Godwin Obsaseki led Edo State Government on the proposed enforcement of compulsory covid-19 vaccination in Edo State and restriction of unvaccinated citizens is a misplaced priority, it’s illegal, unglamorous, inhumane, ungodly and an infringement on fundamental right to dignity of human person, religion, conscience, movement, et cetera.
“The emergence of the controversial Corona virus hitherto referred to as covid-19 is still a misery yet to be unravelled to the world and the said remedial vaccines being experimentally produced is still undergoing clinical trials by those who produced the virus hence cannot be forced on Edo citizens when Edo State and perhaps Nigeria Government could not set up any laboratory processes to examine the said virus, neither produce vaccines nor subject the ones produced in the western world to scientific scrutiny to ensure it will not have effects on our citizens.
EFFECT OF COVID-19
“The virus is purported to have broke out in Wuhan, China and since it emergence has had various adverse effects on people all over the world and leaders of such countries as America, United kingdom, Australia, et cetera developed strategies to mitigate it’s effects on their citizens through paying citizens allowances and tax burden reduction, except the Nigeria Government.
VACCINE AND VACCINATION
“Vaccination all over the world is optional due to individual believe, religion, state of health, et cetera. The world health organisation WHO and other international organisations had encouraged vaccination to prevent the spread of the virus but did not advise compulsory vaccination even in most affected countries.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
“The purported compulsory covid-19 vaccination of Edo citizens and restrictions of unvaccinated citizens from accessing public places would amount to gross violation of the rights of citizens as entrenched in chapter four(4) of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The quarantine act did not provide for vaccination nor enable the Nigeria Government to coarse citizens against their beliefs, religion, et cetera and if otherwise provided for, the Nigeria constitution is supreme to any other law in Nigeria and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of Nigeria constitution, the Nigeria constitution shall prevail and the other law with the extent of it’s inconsistency be void.
INSECURITY IN EDO
“The worsening insecurity in Edo state has adversely affected the economy growth of the state thereby subjecting citizens to untold hardship. Citizens are being robbed, kidnapped, rapped, killed on daily basis in some identified red alert spots such as, Benin Auchi road, Benin abraka road and other parts of the state. The state Governor as the chief executive/security officer of the state owes it a duty to protect lives and properties in the state but has been reluctant in tackling the menace.
“Thousands of ingenious vigilante volunteers are ready to risk their lives to defend our land, protect lives and properties. Edo state Government should provide funds and other logistics and mobilize them to curb all suspected criminal hideouts.
CONCLUSION
“We are not against covid-19 vaccines and vaccination, we are only saying that it should be made optional. Most affected countries of the world such as America, Brazil, Indian etc,are recommending, advising and perhaps enforcing compulsory use of nose mask by unvaccinated persons in public places and not the compulsory covid-19 vaccination.
“We urge Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the Edo State Government to immediately withdraw the purported compulsory Covid-19 vaccination statement, stop all enforcement plans and encourage unvaccinated persons to use nose mask in public places. Failure to do so, we shall use every possible actions within the confines of the law to resist, defend the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Most governors on March 10, 2021 agreed to flag off while the statewide rollout of COVID-19 vaccine was slated to commence from the 12 of March. However, commensurate actions have not been accompanied with the decisions.
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