…Advices Organisers To Urgently Come To Terms With FG To Avert Anarchy, Looting
By Joseph Edegbo
An Associate Professor of Criminology at the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, Linus Akor has said that nobody can guarantee that the planned nationwide protest against bad governance would be peaceful without being highjacked by hoodlums.
In a statement titled “My Fears For the Planned Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance In Nigeria” made available to Africa Prime News, Akor noted that Nigerians, no doubt, have been literally on tenterhooks since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May, 29, 2023.
Akor stated that following the ill-advised removal of fuel subsidy, cost of living and inflation have attained unprecedented heights with negative consequences on virtually every aspect of the lives of Nigerians.
Viewed from this perspective, the Criminologist emphasized, that the plan to proceed on mass protest, must be seen as a patriotic endeavor to whip the government into the path of possible reversal of the fuel subsidy and other negative economic policies.
Given the level of poverty, frustration, aggression, ethnic and religious polarization in the land, what guarantee do the organizers of the proposed protest have, that the event would not be hijacked by hoodlums for self-serving purposes? The *#EndSARs* protest is a sad reminder”, Akor re -echoed.
The Criminologist was also of the firm believe that Nigeria is grossly under policed and sought to know the assurance that there will not be anarchy, leading to looting, violence and destruction of lives and property of innocent Nigerians and foreigners alike, if the protest goes haywire?
He therefore advised the Organisers to seek to have conversation with the government around the issues that had propelled the planned protest. This is with a view to committing President Tinubu to addressing some of the grievances on a short, medium and long term basis with timeless attached to their implementation.
HEREUNDER IS THE FULL TEXT OF STATEMENT
My Fears For The Planned Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance In Nigeria.
In the last one week, the nation has been literally caught in a web of apprehension and anxiety as the *August 1st 2024* date earmarked for the nationwide mass protest against bad governance and some of the anti people economic policies of the present regime draws closer.
Peaceful protest is an integral part of the freedoms enshrined in the democratic space and recognized worldwide.
Protests serve as avenues for pressure groups to ventilate their grievances by drawing the attention of the political leadership of their nations to perceived acts of injustice, corruption and bad governance with a view of seeking redress.
There is no doubt that Nigerians have been literally at tenterhooks since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Following the ill-advised removal of petroleum subsidy, cost of living and inflation have attained unprecedented heights with negative consequences on virtually every aspect of the lives of Nigerians.
Viewed from this perspective, the plan to proceed on mass protest may be seen as a patriotic endeavor to whip the government into the path of possible reversal of the fuel subsidy and other negative economic policies.
However, given the level of poverty, frustration and aggression and ethnic and religious polarization in the land, what guarantee do the organizers of the proposed protest have that the event would not be hijacked by hoodlums for self-serving purposes? The *#EndSARs* protest is a sad reminder.
Similarly, in view of the fact that Nigeria is grossly under policed, what is the assurance that there will not be anarchy, leading to looting, violence and destruction of lives and property of innocent Nigerians and foreigners alike, if the protest goes haywire?
My advice to the organizers is to seek to have a conversation with the government around the issues that have propelled the forthcoming protest with a view of commiting President Tinubu to addressing some of their grievances on a short, medium and long-term basis, with timelines attached to their implementation.
This done, the government should equally show good faith by implementing resolutions that may arise from such a dialogue.
A peaceful Nigeria where there is social justice, equity and a conducive environment for law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful duties, should be the concern and priority of both the protest organizers and the APC federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
God bless Nigeria.