Shiite protests: PPN berates FG for not protecting citizens

THE Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) has berated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their handling of the protests by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), alleging that the government had shown lack of value for the lives of Nigerians through its handling of incessant killings of Nigerians.

National chairman of PPN, Mr Razak Eyiowuawi, who said the killing of Nigerians by the military for protesting, showed that Nigerians could be killed anyhow anywhere in the world with impunity.

Eyiowuawi, who spoke with journalists, on Tuesday, in reaction to the clash between the military and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) since last Saturday, which has led to the loss of lives and injury, held that the issue could have been handled better by the Federal Government.

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The PPN chairman said: “The situation ought to have been handled in a better, matured and civil manner.

The Shi’ites who were protesting are Nigerians and they have the freedom to express their rights of association and movement.

“The military ought not to be involved nor use deadly force in such protest, it was not war. That should have been the responsibility of the police who were trained in handling of civil matters.

“If the military can just choose to kill with impunity, the citizens they are supposed to protest, it shows nothing will be done if Nigerians are killed in other countries. Nigerians are being killed in South Africa and some other countries and the government is not addressing the situation.

“The Federal Government should be more proactive in taking what affects the lives of Nigerians seriously. The government should learn to respect the lives of citizens.

Countries that value lives of their citizens go to extremes to protect them. Nigeria should take a cue.”

Eyiowuawi said “the needless killing of Nigerians and the insecurity of lives and property in the country showed the country’s security chiefs are out of tune with their responsibilities,” saying “there is need to overhaul the nation’s security apparatus.”

According to him, “men and officials of the Nigerian military and police are doing well at international assignments. Why not bring such officers back home to serve here so that we can have security agencies that value human lives and ready to protect citizens.”