In Lagos State, the Arewa Community and traders have voiced their strong opposition against the planned nationwide protests scheduled by the #EndBadGovernance group from August 1–10, 2024.
Alhaji Shehu Usman, the leader of the Arewa community and traders, articulated their stance during a World Press Conference at the Airport Hotel on Wednesday.
Usman emphasised that their group does not support the protests, asserting that there is no current need for such demonstrations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“We are not in support of the protest because we believe some fifth columnists, politicians, and those who want to set Nigeria, particularly Lagos on fire, are behind the protests for selfish interests,” Usman stated.
He criticised the potential disruptions, citing the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in 2020, which left significant damage and loss.
“We don’t want a repeat of that bad event where many of our people lost properties worth billions of Naira.
“We want to avoid any mass destruction of public and private properties in Lagos State,” he added.
Usman further implored members of the Arewa community and traders to refrain from participating in the protests, emphasising their commitment to peace and stability in Lagos State.
“We want to say unequivocally that we will stand against any protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State,” he concluded.
Similarly, in Ogun State, hundreds of students rallied in Abeokuta against the planned nationwide protests. Organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), the students, led by NAOSS National President Comrade Thomas Kehinde and NANS Chairman Adeyanju Francis, declared their intention to avoid participating in the demonstrations.
Kehinde expressed concerns over the potential for violence and chaos, stating, “We strongly believe that these moves by the governor will go a long way in dousing tension and correcting erroneous impressions about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.”
He highlighted the possibility of the protests being hijacked by hoodlums and urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to use his position to rally against the planned protests.
“The organisers of the protests are mobilising across the country in preparation for the march against the current economic hardship in the country.
“Though we are not against any group protesting, we are using this avenue to declare our intention and readiness not to be part of these protests,” Kehinde asserted.
The student leaders cautioned against the potential escalation of peaceful protests into violence, recalling the painful memories of the EndSARS protests.
“To avoid the replay of the wanton destruction and alleged killings that accompanied the EndSARS protests, we hereby emphasise that students in Ogun should stay away from the nationwide protests,” Kehinde urged.
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