The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project has vowed to take the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to court, in the event that he doesn’t pull out the final proposal he issued to beggars in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Wike during the flag-off ceremony for access road construction in the Katampe District of the Federal Capital on Tuesday, said FG would begin capturing beggars seen in the city of Abuja from the following week Monday.
SERAP, but in a post on social media on Wednesday, expressed that nobody ought to be condemned for their socio-economic status.
The group admonished the minister to rather give chances to assist the beggars with modifying their lives.
“Allow me to state obviously that we have declared war; Abuja is turning into a beggar city. If you know you have a sister or brother who is a beggar, please, from next week, we will take them away. It is embarrassing that people will come in and the first thing they will see are just beggars on the road.
“Sometimes, they may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that. So, I’m giving you a public holiday from now until Sunday. From Monday, we will remove them,” he affirmed.
SERAP nonetheless said it wouldn’t hold back to file a lawsuit against the minister in the event that he carried out the danger.
“The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, should withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja with immediate effect or face legal action. Nobody ought to be condemned for participating in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.
“As opposed to capturing and taking action against beggars, Mr Wike ought to give them the potential chance to revamp their lives and completely coordinate into society while regarding their poise and human rights. Mr Wike should begin to address the root causes of poverty and the violations of the economic and social rights of especially marginalized individuals in Abuja with immediate effect.
“He must address the plight of those experiencing homelessness and those living in poverty in Abuja and not demonize and criminalize them.”
