THE former candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 presidential election, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has cautioned Nigerians against embarking on a nationwide protest
He said rather than protest against unfavourable events under President Bola Tinubu’s government, Nigerians should prepare to vote out the administration in the next election.
While attributing the country’s hardships to leadership failures dating back to 2007 in a statement via his X account, on Saturday, July 27, the former Kano State governor urged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of Tinubu’s government in its efforts to navigate some of the challenges.
The NNPP national leader also expressed deep regret over the attitude of Nigerian leaders towards governance, which he said had resulted in widespread anger, hunger, insecurity, and hopelessness, particularly among the youths.
He cited several examples of these governance failures including federal government interferences in Kano State emirship matters, the impeachment of Edo State’s Deputy Governor, political crises in Rivers State, and controversies surrounding the SAMOA Agreement.
He added that the alleged sabotage of the Dangote Refinery and the continued insecurity in the country were among the issues that angered citizens.
Part of his statement reads, “I urge Nigerians to put our country first before any other consideration by way of being patient with the government and giving it all necessary support to succeed. If any government fails to provide the necessary leadership for better Nigeria, we will have opportunity as citizens to elect the people who can bring the required change using our votes.
“In these trying times, our nation stands at a crossroads. Our collective frustration with bad governance has reached a boiling point, and the urge to protest is strong. As an elder and patriotic Nigerian, I share your concerns and your desire for change. However, I urge you to consider the consequences of national protests and to channel your energy into a more effective and peaceful means of transformation—through the power of your ballot.
“Protests, while a fundamental democratic right, often come with unforeseen and dire consequences. The tragic events of the past have shown us that protests can escalate into violence, leading to loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread chaos. The repercussions of such actions extend far beyond the immediate moment, leaving scars on our communities and deepening divisions among us.”
The ICIR reports that some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, have been mobilising for nationwide protests scheduled for the first week of August.
The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.
However, since then, some state actors, including the presidency, military, SSS and police, have threatened the protest organisers, calling on them to suspend the plan.
The Nigerian military had, on Thursday, July 25, accused the organisers of the planned protest of intending to replicate the recent protest demonstration in Kenya, which led to deaths, destruction and drastic actions from the country’s president.
Foreign mercenaries involve in protest – IGP
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, July 25, told journalists that intelligence at the Force’s disposal revealed that foreign mercenaries were involved in the proposed protest.
He advised every Nigerian to proceed with caution and reconsider their decision to join the protest.
He also directed the protest organisers to submit their names and other details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
He added that to prevent clashes with other events or activities, the police needed to be aware of the precise routes and locations for the demonstrations.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M