“We Support Nationwide Protest” – Najatu Mohammed, Salihu Lukman, Prof Usman Yusuf, Say Action Valid, Justifiable

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The identities of some of the progenitors of the August 1 nationwide protest in the North became clearer on Wednesday July 31.

In a statement jointly issued , Professor Usman,Yusuf ,former APC North-west Chairman, Salihu Lukman ,Najiatu  Mohammed, an activist, Dr Umar Ardo and others threw their full weight behind the protest.

They said going by the unprecedented  security challenges ,excruciating poverty ,unemployment,and rising cost of living in the country, the protest has become imperative.

They collectively blamed the situation on bad governance and unmitigated corruption by public officials.

“We acknowledge that the primary purpose of any Government is to secure lives and property and enhance the welfare of its citizens.

“Any regime that cannot guarantee these basic rights loses all legal and moral authority of being in power,and would naturally incur the wrath of citizens .

“It can, therefore, only remain in office ,more by default than by public consent. This seems to be the state our dear country ,Nigeria is drifting towards .

“Over the years ,successive Governments at all levels ,including the incumbent one ,fell short of delivering the requisite leadership.

“Consequently, Nigerians have been thrown into a state of social dislocation that has plunged citizens especially the youths into disillusionment ,disappointment, frustrations, and hopelessness.

“To press home their legitimate demands concerning the cost of living crisis,:insecurity and the worrisome drift in the ship of state ,Nigerian youths have resolved to go on a 10-day nationwide protest from the 1st of August, 2024.

“We, therefore, wrote this special text to state our position concerning this resolve to protest and the attitude of the Government to it.

“First, we want to affirm the constitutionally protected right of all citizens to assemble and to protest .We also acknowledge that the cause of the protest against the system is valid and justifiable.

“We wish to state clearly that we stand by our youths in their resolve to exercise their right to protest..

“Secondly,we call on the Federal Government to be pragmatic in its approach to the resolution of the crisis if if hopes to amicably resolve and mitigate the risks associated with mass protests .

“To this end ,we recommend that the Government engage in dialogue . Identify and directly engage with the youth leaders and protesters to understand and address their grievances ” part of the statement reads.

The Northern stakeholders condemned the present situation  where the Government has left traditional ,religious ,labour leaders and civil society groups with the  job of calming frayed nerves .

Similarly, it warned that any attempt to use force ,intimidation and harassment to handle the fragile situation will be counterproductive..

Rather, it called on the Government to urgently embark on reforms with a view to addressing the issues that have been raised by the protesters.