Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, urged Nigerians to exercise caution on Thursday regarding the national protests that some citizens of the nation are considering.
In a statement, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, stated that although people have an unalienable right to protest, the overall atmosphere surrounding the planned protest needs to be taken into account.
He said, “Information at the disposal of Afenifere is that the planned protest is to draw the government’s attention to the country’s excruciating situation.
“As the saying goes, those who feel it, know it. In other words, Nigerians consider protest as a way of registering their displeasure, perhaps disenchantment over what many are going through. It’s in order.
“But there are some factors that need to be put into consideration. First is whether protest is the only means by which the government’s attention can be called to the perceived hardship in the land. And, if the protest path is to be taken, what form should it take?
“Engagement is a very potent instrument, not only to call attention to the situation on ground, but also to decide on what the ways should be.
“Incidentally, the Federal Government has not only expressed its awareness of what is going on in the country; it has also expressed a commitment to engagements with Nigerians to find solutions to the myriad of challenges that the country is facing. Challenges that are the basis for the planned protests.
“The experience of what happened during #Endsars in 2020 is still fresh in our minds. Scars of the protests can still be felt in various places. For instance, the non-pareil modern laboratory in Lagos that was destroyed then could not be replaced up till now. A laboratory that had nothing to do with what the protesters were venting their anger against. The destruction of the laboratory has meant that tests that could be routinely done in Lagos now have to be taken to the United States of America.”
Therefore, the organization urged the appropriate government agencies to take concrete action to lessen Nigerians’ suffering as soon as possible, in addition to meaningfully engaging the populace.
