By Adesina Soyooye
US, UK Warn Citizens Violence Likely
Even though two important Associations have withdrawn from the nationwide protests today, June 12, fears of violence abound. Tension is so thick one could almost cut it with a knife. And security is high. People are afraid. And inspite of assurances from the Police that people should go about their businesses, nobody is taking anything for granted.
The organisers had asked Nigerians to troop out and join the protest, or sit at home. In Lagos, the Police Command had asked Lagosians to ignore the sit- at-hone order, and follow their usual routine.
But that will not be likely. The fear of security personnels, armed to the teeth, is most likely to keep them off road than the fear of the protesters. Streets would most likely be empty.
However, for the second time within 24 hours, the wind has been taken off the nationwide protest.
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, which has been gearing up for what was proposed to be the mother of all protests, has withdrawn from it.
A few hours before CNG’s withdrawal, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, had, also withdrawn, citing security reasons, and alleging that Politicians and other disgruntled elements in the society plan to hijack what they had planned to be a peaceful protest against the unprecedented insecurity in the country, incessant kidnapping of students, and increasing hunger.
However, a statement by its President, Sunday Asefon, said it was pulling out of the protest to avoid anybody hiding under NANS to perpetrate violence. He said NANS would reschedule its own protest.
Fearing violence, both the American and United Kingdom’s Governments have advised their citizens in Nigeria to avoid the protesters, stay indoors, and be aware of their environment.
But in a statement, the CNG said it pulled out Northern Nigeria out of the protest for two reasons.
The first CNG said is that some information gathered indicate that members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, would hijack the planned peaceful protest and, under its banner, penetrate the North and cause mayhem in the region.
At a Press conference, its Publicity Secretary, who spoke on behalf of the Group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said it was not in the character of the North to jump into a journey, which destination it does not know, especially as the CNG was not contacted.
Said Suleiman: “We can’t drag the North into an agenda that is not properly stated, and for which we are not even contacted.
“This is in addition to keeping the North away from the trap set by IPOB to sponsor infiltration in some Northern states to turn the protests violent. In case of any ugly incident, the anti-North schemers would then hold the region up as the volatile section of the country.
Secondly, the CNG said it does not recognise June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
CNG: “Another reason for the non-participation of CNG and all our affiliates and organs is the fact that we do not recognise the legitimacy of June 12 as Democracy Day in the first place.”
Until 2020 when the Federal Government recognised June 12 as Democracy Day, and declared it as a Federal Public Holiday, it had, since 1999, when Nigeria went back to Democracy, after a long spell of Military dictatorship been the exclusive of the South-west.
June 12 became significant because it was the day Nigeria held what many describe as a free and fair Presidential election. It was won by Chief MKO Abiola, a Yoruba Muslim, whose running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, is also a Muslim.
But just when the result was about to be officially declared, the Military Government, led by General Ibrahim Babangida cancelled it. Till date, nobody can exactly say why the election was cancelled.
Abiola was forced into exile. On return, when a worse dictatorship came on board, under General Sani Abacha, Abiola was clamped into detention, and charged him with treason.
Abiola, sadly, died in detention under what has remained suspicious circumstance, during the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, after Abacha’s sudden passing. Since Abiola’s death, his South-west region had always marked June 12 as a Public holiday in his honour, until the President Muhammadu Buhari Government declared it a Federal Public Holiday in 2020.
However, this year’s June 12 may be marked with protests that could degenerate into violence, given the insecurity and anger and hunger in the country.
Many States, especially, in the South, are on high alert and, the drivers behind the protest promise it would hold across the country.
The Police has issued a stern warning against the protest being hijacked, and so have some States.
President Buhari, in the past couple of days, has warned that his Government would no longer tolerate violent protests. In an interview with Arise Television aired on June 10, the President had said the #EndSARS violent protest which rocked the country in 2020 was aimed at sacking his Government from office.
He is poised not to allow Amy such move again, particularly, today, June 12, 2021.
