The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has appealed to the convener of the planned nationwide protest and Federal Government to urgently engage in critical and realistic dialogue before the situation degenerates or snowballs into an uncontrollable scenario.
Its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, who gave the advice in a statement in Kaduna on Friday, said although Nigerians were passing through difficult challenges, but protest might not be the panacea.
“The JNI under the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility appeals to the protest convener, their covert and overt benefactors.
“As well as other critical stakeholders and the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently engage in critical and realistic dialogue before the situation degenerates or snowballs into an uncontrollable scenario.
“Nigerians no doubt are passing through difficult challenges, but protest might not be the panacea,” JNI scribe said.
According to him, the global landscape is replete with sordid tales of repercussion of protests in Libya, Syria, Iraq, U.S. (Capitol Hill), Ukraine, Tunisia, Sudan, Russia, among others did not yield desired results, rather they rendered most of these countries either ungovernable or partly destroyed.
“A glance through the events in Kenya give some glimpses of what might envelop our dear nation Nigeria, which is struggling to survive the multiple challenges that dot the landscape of the country.
“Undoubtedly, protest in Nigeria could mar our efforts at addressing these challenges.”
“As it may, we should learn from the bad experiences of protests in other climes and we should avoid the bobby traps they had fallen into.
Aliyu said the Sultan of Sokoto implored all Nigerians to be introspective and be honest on the matter, saying that the discontentment and disillusionment being expressed are real and needed to be tackled head-on by the government.
“Therefore, the JNI is compelled to make this clarion call and passionate plea to all concerned parties.We have stated times without number in our previous press releases, that food security is synonymous with home security.’
He urged the Federal Government to make more frantic efforts to secure the country so that the citizens would have access to their lands.
According to him, government should provide subsidised farming materials, promote industrialisation, create self-sustaining agro-business in the six-geopolitical zones.
He added that government should also enhance quality education, especially primary, technical and vocational education.
“We pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders, and for tranquility to prevail in Nigeria.
“May God , the Most High, also provide the quickest relief to all problems bedeviling the Nigerian state.”
Mr Aliyu said the recent calls and counter-calls for protest in Nigeria, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty and escalating national security challenges, became worrisome and required immediate attention.
NAN
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