Rakiya A.Muhammad
The National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) has harped on the need to avoid a repeat of the violent protests and many crises the nation has experienced that led to massive destruction and deaths.
In a statement on the nationwide protest against hardship, NAOSNP National President Oki O. Samson urged protesters to act with every sense of decency and responsibility for the country.
While acknowledging that protests to air grievances are a vital element of democracy, enshrined in the Constitution for all citizens to make their voices heard, the association stressed that they should be peaceful, calm, organised, and with notable leaders at the forefront.
It noted that individuals uninterested in the good of the populace often hijack a faceless and leaderless protest, stressing that this is why engaging in dialogue is a more effective approach than taking to the streets.
NAOSNP called on the protesters to seek dialogue with the government as the best way to achieve positive outcomes, noting that the planned protest had begun to yield beneficial results even before its official start date. It prayed for the youths to tread cautiously to avoid reversing the trend.
“Since the idea of the protests was mooted about three weeks ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had signed the minimum wage bill, ordered that a bag of rice be sold at N40,000, and ended the NNPCL/Dangote refinery saga with the direct sale of crude oil in naira to the Nigerian-based refinery.
He also approved the establishment of the FCTA Youth Secretariat and student loans, among other good initiatives,” it noted.
“These recent moves by the Federal Government are bound to bring succour to Nigerians in the long run.”
Therefore, NAOSNP urged the youths to ensure that their intended action yielded more positive outcomes and not allow their demonstration to be hijacked.
It reiterated: ‘While it is the constitutional right of every Nigerian to protest, there is nowhere in the constitution enshrined that violence, looting, arson, and mindless destruction are features of protest.”
“Anything other than peaceful protest is a crime. Protesters who go out of line to attack citizens, loot businesses, burn social infrastructure, and destroy our commonwealth will face the full weight of the law.”
The NAOSNP urged the protesting youths to vigilantly identify and eliminate any nefarious elements who may attempt to infiltrate them, causing harm and destruction, and tarnishing their reputation.
“While the country is in dire need of direction, this is not the time to throw blame and play ethnic cards; it’s a time for responsibility. It is important to note that joining a protest is by choice, and no one should be forced, threatened, or cajoled to join,” it stated.
“The protesters must also understand that it is not in the interest of the nation or its citizens to hold a protest for 10 straight days. It’s inimical to economic and social growth.”
The association urged security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, to not relent in their duty to protect lives and properties in the tense period, advising them to deploy the friendly approach adopted by the Lagos State Command during the recent protest conducted by the Nigeria Labour Congress some months ago.
It also called on the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), whose duty it is to protect critical infrastructure, to live up to expectations and ensure that no vandal comes close to national installations.
Similarly, it appealed to Nigerian Immigration and Customs to ensure no illegal immigrants stray into the country, ensuring no arms, weapons, and ammunition find their way into the country.
