The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, warned of an implosion in Nigeria which the government may not be able to handle.
Afenifere’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, issued the warning while condemning the ban on street protests in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Authority.
Speaking with newsmen, Odumakin warned that such actions may lead to a serious crisis in Nigeria.
According to Odumakin, “If they are very sensible they should know that such postures can’t resolve this matter now.
“Such postures had brought this issue this far, the matter now is not about SARS but about the highhandedness of government, SARS is just the expression.
“Recall that a few weeks ago, labour was supposed to protest but they bought them off and they sold out thinking that was the end of it but anything can ignite it.
“This is an injury-time for the Nigerian ruling class, they have pushed Nigerians to the edge of the precipice and this thing can explode anytime.
“I have always told people that the fight between chickens can cause serious war in Nigeria, so this is not just about SARS they are only using this as an avenue to express their anger over the governance of Nigeria. And this same thing they are doing, sending thugs after protesters while placing bans on demonstration. They should learn from the Arab springs, just one man set himself ablaze and it became something else.”
On the protests ending in a revolution, Odumakin said: “Well, depending on how they handle it, if they continue with this posture it will get out of hand.
“All these actions those in authority are taking may escalate the crisis and they won’t be able to handle it. The ruling class is so fragile now because people are not happy with them.”
However, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has rejected the ban on protest and use of armed thugs to attack protesters in the ongoing nationwide protests to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the newly set up Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
CUPP described the move as provocative, primitive, barbaric, autocratic, and illegal, and an act capable of igniting more confusion.
They described the move as a clear sign that the government was not ready to end brutality against citizens.
The opposition warned the All Progressives Congress (APC), government to respect the constitutional rights of patriotic young Nigerians to protest and not hide under the cover of Covid-19 regulations that they never obeyed to attack protesters.
The coalition further advised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, not to drag the Nigeria Army into politics or deploy soldiers against innocent civilians.
The political parties urged Buratai to show force against Boko Haram and bandits that have taken over parts of the country, including the village of President Muhammadu Buhari and not innocent protesters.
CUPP called on the government to focus on ending brutality of security forces and insecurity and the alleged corruption-ridden administration.
“Your clampdown and use of armed thugs on protesters will backfire, learn from the mistakes that consumed brutal regimes of Keita of Mali, Gaddafi of Libya, Mubarak of Egypt, Idi Amin of Uganda etc, who deployed armed forces against Innocent Protesters,” CUPP’s statement signed by its Spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, said.
“That statement from the Nigerian Army threatening peaceful Nigerians is a joke taken too far. The protests are wholly a civil action and do not in any way concern the Army.
“Or is a day like this why the President has refused to sack the Service Chiefs? Nigerians are in shock and the entire world is amazed that we could degenerate so quickly to such pre-civilization era.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership, and the PDP Senators’ Caucus have thrown their weight behind the #EndSARS protest, saying that government should adequately compensate victims of police brutality as a way out.
The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, stated this after over one-hour closed-door meeting with the PDP Senators’ Caucus, yesterday in Abuja.