*Tasks government on protecting protesters
By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West Nigeria – A group, National Youth Alliance (NYA), has expressed worries why all of a sudden, some cultural associations and faith based groups are issuing press statements, kicking against a patriotic move aimed at getting Nigeria’s leaders to act in ending hardships being faced by majority of Nigerians.
NYA in a terse statement, issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday July 25, said it suspects that those coming to the media space to kick against the protest may have been compromised.
The statement signed by the SA Media to NYA President Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, Okpani Jacob Dickson, noted that there is no known law in Nigeria that prohibits peaceful protest, hence it is a constitutional right of every Nigerian, to protest, when things don’t go as expected.
“Who is afraid of peaceful protests, that wants to use every available means, including spreading unfounded fear, intimidation and influence in preventing Nigerians from expressing themselves peacefully
“It now seems like those against the protest are either being favoured or are expecting favour from some quarters, those gaining from our present predicament.
“Whether we like it or not, Nigerians are not finding it easy in recent times. The best the government can do, is to assure of better governance through cutting of costs and not intimidating the populace to whom belongs the real power from exercising their fundamental rights through peaceful protest,” the group stated.
NYA suggested that what the government ought to do to be seen to be on the side of the suffering masses, is to provide adequate security for those protesting to prevent hoodlums from attacking them.
“If the government comes out to admit that Nigerians are suffering, protect them during the protest and assure of better days ahead, it would be a win-win and afterwards, the country would have patriotic citizens and a caring government which they would support to grow our economy.”
Admitting that the present administration inherited a lot of problems, NYA urged President Bola Tinubu to be bold and confront them, while urging citizens to be peaceful and law abiding should the protest hold eventually.