The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, have jointly called for an end to the #EndBadGovernance protests sweeping across the nation.
Angry youths have occupied major cities including Lagos and Abuja, demanding a reversal of several economic policies enacted by the government. The protests, which entered their second day on Friday, have turned violent in some states, resulting in loss of life and property.
Concerned by the escalating situation, the religious leaders urged the protesters to cease their demonstrations and engage in dialogue with the government.
“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,” they said in a jointly signed statement.
“There is no doubt that hunger and hardship persist 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 an 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. The Council calls on the security agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties. NIREC urges the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearnings 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.”
