Nationwide Protest: Afenifere calls for caution, appeals to organizers to shelve plan

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has appealed to Nigerians to be circumspect on the issue of the nationwide protests coming up in August.

A Press Statement by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi stated that while the people have an inalienable right to protest, consideration should be given to the general atmosphere surrounding the planned protest.

“Information at the disposal of Afenifere is that the planned protest is to draw the attention of the government to the excruciating situation in the country. 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?”

Afenifere spokesman stated that protest is certainly not the only way to draw attention to the situation in the land.

“Engagement is a very potent instrument not only to call attention to the situation on the ground but 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 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.”

“Since dialogues would be employed to resolve conflicts, it’s better to engage in dialogues rather than allowing conflicts to degenerate into street protests that stand the chance of being hijacked by irate mobs.”

Afenifere concluded by calling on the planners of the protest to level up with the government that has expressed its readiness for engagements.

“We also call on relevant arms of government not only to meaningfully engage the people but to make manifest steps being taken to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians within the shortest possible time”, Ajayi added.