By Osahon Osahon
Hundreds of members of civil society groups in Benin City, Edo State, under the aegis of Equity Initiatives, on Monday, protested against the State Government’s plan to make COVID-19 Vaccination compulsory for accessing large gathering, both public and private.
Recall that Governor Obaseki had at a briefing last week named such gathering to include churches, mosques, banks, wedding or burial receptions, among others.
He stated that such gathering would no longer be accessed without presenting the vaccine certificate from the second week of September.
He further stated in the briefing that the third wave of COVID-19, is causing devastating effects across the country, hence the need to introduce stiffer measures to reduce the effect.
The early morning downpour in the city did not deter the peaceful protesters from matching through various streets in Benin, the Benin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) and Edo State Government House.
Armed with placards with various inscriptions like: Obaseki can’t force us to take COVID-19 vaccines; I have right to mosque; We have right to decide; amongst others, the protesters said the plans by the government is tantamount to trampling on the fundamental rights of the citizens.
They asked the Governor to face infrastructural decay and insecurity in the State.
Spokesperson for the group, Chris Iyama, said, “We are here to express our displeasure over government move to force Edo people to take COVID-19 vaccines. This is against our fundamental human rights.
“You cannot force someone to eat what he or she doesn’t want. Are we in Banana Republic. We own the state not the government.”
Also speaking, the Interim State chairman, Edo Civil Socity Organistions, Bishop Osadolor Anthony Ochei, said citizens of the State have the right to decide whether to be vaccinated or not.
According to him, “If the government have failed, we cannot fail ourselves. Government have the right to make policies but this policy is not law.”
