JUST IN: The Bread We Are Buying For N2,000 Will Be Sold At N5,000 – Johnpraise Daniel

According to Vanguard, amid growing opposition to the nationwide protest planned to commence on Thursday, August 1 by some youths in the country aggrieved about the state of the economy, two notable activists came out at the weekend to say there is no going back on the action. ..Read Full Article

The two activists – Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Mr. Deji Adeyanju – said they were speaking on behalf of their groups. While Adegboruwa represents the Take It Back Movement, Adeyanju is of Concerned Nigerians.

This development came just as some key regional groups – Afenifere (South-West), Yoruba Council of Elders (South-West), Ohanaeze Ndigbo (South-East), and Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) – disagreed on the protest.

Key religious groups in the country also weighed in, saying the protest could lead to regret on the part of promoters. Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) expressed concerns that the protest may lead to violence, destruction, and more suffering for Nigerians, citing the experiences of the #EndSARS protest.

PFN Deputy President, Archbishop Johnpraise Daniel, urged patience and dialogue, emphasizing the need for alternative solutions. He said, “The protest will do no one any good. We know there is suffering in the land, and going on protest and things getting worse would bring forth more suffering than what we are experiencing. If everywhere is closed down or shut down because of protests, the bread we are buying for N2,000 will be sold at N5,000 because it won’t even be available. So, I strongly recommend patience and giving the government time, while also putting pressure on the government to do the needful—to do those things that are necessary and good.”

Rev. John Hayab, Country Director of GPFN, warned that the protest could be hijacked by sponsors with ulterior motives, leading to chaos and confusion. He said, “Are people hungry? Is there poverty? Is there bad governance? Do people have the right to protest? Should the people protest? The answer to all these questions is an emphatic ‘Yes.’ But then, you ask: How do we go about the protest? The truth is that there is a tendency for this protest to be hijacked.

That’s why some of us are saying, ‘Can we talk more before we hit the streets?’ Protesting is a fundamental right in democracy, but let’s dialogue first.”

CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, called on the government to cut the cost of governance, mitigate the effects of hunger, poverty, and anxiety, and address the reckless conduct of some political and public office holders. He said, “CAN understands the wave of anger being experienced by the majority of the masses, orchestrated by hunger, unemployment, and the reckless conduct of some political and public officeholders.of citizens, groups, and organizations to peaceful protest. The experiences of the End SARS protests remain a testament to the potential for violence and destruction.”