Hunger: Gumi Calls For Postponement Of Protest To Avoid “Anarchy”

Controversial Islamic cleric Shiekh Ahmad Gumi, has called for the postponement of the nationwide protest by some groups in the country.

The protest scheduled by the organisers to hold on August 1-10 across the country is currently drawing support from many Nigerians, who said it’s required to call the government’s attention to their sufferings.

Not a few Nigerians have also called for restraint, saying the planned protest has the potential to destabilise the country.

Recall that Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President has named Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, as the major sponsor of the protest.

The state security agencies, reports say have clamped down on some individuals, believed to be the sponsors of the planned protest.

For instance, a Kano-based TikToker, Junaidu ‘Abusalma’ Abdullahi, has been arrested by the State Security Service, DSS, which has kept him in their detention.

Amidst the arrest of those perceived to be the arrowheads of the planned protest, Obi, a former governor of Anambra state has denied the allegation.

Speaking on the consequence of the protest on the country, Gumi called on the “youth to postpone their intended protest this August to the first of January next year.”

According to him, the youth have the right to protest the current hardship in the country due to the insensitivity of the political class to the plight of the masses, but cautioned that the protest will not augur well for the country.

He urged the protesters to shift the protest to next year stressing  that “any premature action by the youth is mostly likely to lead to anarchy and greater turmoil.”

Gumi said, “With due apology to the few honest Nigerians, as corruption has permeated the fabric of the society, leaving virtually no institution without blemish, the recent move by the youth to demonstrate against bad governance and poor leadership is a great precursor of a brighter future for this nation,” Mr Gumi said.

He added, “At a time, the executives are largely corrupt. So also the legislature, the academia, the judiciary, the armed forces, the labor unions, and even the affluent citizens, all watching as the nation is drifting slowly to hunger and lawlessness, every quarter is after its interest of amassing wealth, the youth suddenly have stood out as the last hope of this nation.

“On this note, I am calling on the youth to postpone their intended protest this August to the first of January next year. The reasons are: First and foremost, to give enough time to coordinate their various youth groups for better organization so that whatever demands they want, would be articulated well for the betterment of the nation. It is said if you don’t plan to succeed you are then planning to fail.”