Civil Society Groups Condemn Hijack Of Peaceful Protest by Faceless Sponsors to Unleash Mayhem in Nigeria

......Urge Security Agencies to identify, Bring to Justice Gangs Responsible for The Violence, Destruction

From Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

SAHEL ReportersNews: The Amalgamated Coalition For Civil Society Groups For Transparency And Good Governance, And Center For Excerllence,  Leadership, And Development says hoodlums with “faceless sponsors” used the #EndbadGovernance protest to unleash mayhem in several parts of the country.

In a statement on Saturday by the Coordinating Chairman of  Amalgamated Civil Society Coalition, Dr. Manzo- Abubakar in Abuja, noted that the protest which erupted across Nigeria referred to as the hunger protest as predicted, by well-meaning genuinely motivated compatriots, but was hijacked in several quarters by well-sponsored and well-armed thugs, armed gangs, street urchins, and the lumpen mostly from the critical youth stratum of society. 

According to Dr. Manzo, Inspite of the fact that the security apparatuses of the Nigerian State showcased exemplary restraint, the protests effectuated in some areas into avoidable burning of public and private property, arson, and regrettably loss of lives.

"This is a very sad and unfortunate development, and we condemn in the strongest terms the violence and destruction that has occurred. We also condemn the hijacking of the protests by thugs and criminal elements, and the exploitation of the legitimate grievances of the Nigerian people by these forces of darkness". He said.

Calling on the Nigerian government to take immediate and decisive action to address the root causes of the protests, and to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians are protected. 

"We also call on the security agencies to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the violence and destruction, and to ensure that they are held accountable for their actions.

"Furthermore, we call on all Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful, and to eschew violence and destruction. We must work together to build a better future for ourselves and for our country, and we must do so in a peaceful and lawful manner". He stated.

He affirmed that the Coordinating Leader of the PAN-NIGERIAN AMALGAM is in tandem with its world press conference of 31st July 2024 at the NUJ Press House Utako calling on the entirety of the critical youth stratum from across Nigeria to do a rethink and put a decisive patriotic stop to the hunger protests, which though well-intentioned have been hijacked as predicted by feudal fascistic anti-Democratic elements who do not wish Nigeria well.

"On behalf of the over 300 organisations with impeccable civil society and working-class credentials, I appeal for an immediate cessation of protests and I am persuaded that all genuinely motivated Nigerians shall situate the progressive nuances, formal engagements, and very painful adjustments in the overall national interest, which are in the public domain AS A CONCRETE MORAL STATEMENT OF HIS ENDURING SENSE OF REMORSE AND PATHOS in respect of the inevitable cleansing of the Augean stables occasioned by the accumulated dastardly baggages and socio-economic inequities of the immediate past federal administration which borrowed Nigeria into bankruptcy, sold out our crude petroleum resources upfront and essentially primed the hypothetical successor administration to fail.

"But thank God for His Abundant mercies, that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration has done the needful and saved Nigeria from going under. It is impatient of debate that President Tinubu has a listening ear which is very admirable. 

"He has reconnected himself to the Renewed Hope Agenda of his progressive federal administration and is willy-nilly taking Nigeria and Nigerians into the light to the acclaim of all genuinely motivated Nigerians and global collective social conscience and to the lament of the forces of degeneration, regression, and sedition who want to get through the back door what they lost democratically.

"President Tinubu has showcased his composite commitment to carry on to the fullest the heavy responsibilities of the High office of the President of the Republic. It is on record that President Tinubu's open acceptance of some formal expression of public disapprobation with respect to the ongoing needed inevitable economic reforms are some of the essential qualities which make him, the personality of History so special". Dr. Manzo said.

THE WAY FORWARD, the group said they are miff and it is indeed laughable that some of the heavily sponsored protestors are calling for Military intervention and take over of government by torpedoing the existing Democratic order. "WE CANNOT AND SHALL NEVER ACCEPT SUCH NONSENSE. NIGERIANS SHALL RISE AND DEFEND THIS DEMOCRATIC 4TH REPUBLIC WITH EVERY DROP OF THEIR BLOOD AND RESOURCES FROM THE AGENTS OF RETROGRESSION AND DESTABILIZATION".

"I HEREBY CALL ON THE SECURITY APPARATUSES OF THE NIGERIAN STATE TO DO THE NEEDFUL AND ESTABLISH PUBLICLY THE IDENTITIES OF THE FACELESS SPONSORS WHO BELONG TO THE SOUR GRAPES HORDE". He said.