BY EDMOND ODOK – With threat of violence and killings spreading across the country, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh have urged Nigerians to suspend the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest which enters its third day this weekend.
In a statement released on Friday, the two religious leaders, who are Co-Chairmen of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), expressed concerns over the many lives and properties that could be lost and destroyed if the protest continues.
Disturbed that many lives have already been lost and properties damaged during the first day of the protest, they also charged the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearning and needs of the citizens in order to put to an end actions that can destabilise the country.
The statement read thus; “The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), under the leadership of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) observes with heavy heart the happenings in the country at the moment.
“The protest that commenced in a peaceful manner on Thursday, August 1, 2024 despite pleas from all quarters, took a turn for the worse and became violent later in the day. In just a few hours lives and property were lost due to this unfortunate scenario.
“It is without doubt that there is hunger and hardship in the country but civil unrest is not the solution as it would only further aggravate the already frail state of the nation. NIREC hereby calls on fellow citizens of Nigeria to please call off this protest and give the Government a chance to redeem itself.
“In just one day lives and enormous amount of property have been destroyed. Imagine if this continues for a prolonged period of time, only God knows the extent of damage that would be incurred.”
Importantly too, the statement said; “The Council calls on the security agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties”, adding; “NIREC urges the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearning and needs of the citizens.
“We need a peaceful and tranquil nation we can be proud to call our own. May God bless us all”.
