Afenifere: With Assurance By FG, No Need For Nationwide Protest

By Ayodele Oni

The Pa Reuben Fasoranti-led Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation has observed that going by assurance by the federal government, proponents of nationwide strike should shelve the idea.

A statement by the Organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, made available on Friday maintained 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 government’s attention can be called to 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 out should be.

“Incidentally, the Federal Government has not only expressed its awareness of what is going on in the country, it also expressed a commitment to engagements with Nigerians so as to find solutions to the myriad of challenges that the country is facing; challenges that are the basis for the planned protests.

“When a cost-benefits analysis of the protests were done, it would be found that the outcome did not justify the actions, going by the number of properties, if not lives, that were lost.

“The experience of what happened during the #EndSARS protest 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 angers 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. Instances of such abound in other parts of the country.

“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 mob.”

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 also to make manifest steps being taken to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians within the shortest possible time.”