- He expressed concerns that the protest could be hijacked
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the organizers of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest to cancel the demonstration and instead engage in dialogue to address the country’s challenges.
In a statement released on Monday, NBA President Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) expressed concerns that the protest could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements, leading to civil unrest and chaos, worsening the current situation.
“I most humbly appeal to Nigerians, particularly those planning to embark on the protest, to reconsider and reflect on the potential consequences for our security, economy, and existence,” Maikyau said. “Our past experiences with mass protests show that they are often hijacked by unscrupulous elements who commit heinous crimes, turning a peaceful protest into a riot.”
The association recommended organizing a National Security Summit to address security challenges and suggested regular government-people engagement to discuss the country’s issues.
“Whatever we are experiencing now cannot compare to the chaos and destruction that civil unrest could bring. We should not even imagine such an experience, and we must forbid it,” he added.
Maikyau called on the government, protest organizers, and supporters to cancel the protest and engage in sincere discussions to address the people’s plight. He also recommended involving traditional institutions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations in the dialogue and monitoring the implementation of agreed solutions.
Additionally, the NBA President urged the government to take decisive steps to revamp the economy and address the issues of hunger and poverty, which are largely caused by insecurity.
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