Hardship: Arewa group cautions against protest

The Rebuild Arewa Initiative for Development (RAID) has cautioned against the use of protests to address Nigeria’s challenges. RAID made this known in a communiqué issued on Tuesday in Abuja at the end of a CSO’s/stakeholders engagement on the state of the nation. The communiqué which was signed by Balarabe Rufai, President of RAID, said […]

The Rebuild Arewa Initiative for Development (RAID) has cautioned against the use of protests to address Nigeria’s challenges.

RAID made this known in a communiqué issued on Tuesday in Abuja at the end of a CSO’s/stakeholders engagement on the state of the nation.

The communiqué which was signed by Balarabe Rufai, President of RAID, said instead of engaging in protest, a peaceful and intellectual approach to find lasting solutions should be adopted.

The organization, while recognising the right to peaceful protest, warned against the negative consequences of such actions, citing examples from Libya, Sudan, Kenya, and Nigeria’s own experiences.

The communiqué said: “We cannot shun away from confronting the bitter truth and take responsibility at a critical time of needs. We need to adopt a peaceful and intellectual approach to address our challenges.

“The only way to quell the current national feud & multifaceted protests that could be infiltrated and hijacked like the ENDSARS, is to say sorry & restore subsidies on fuel, electricity, transportation to force down prices of essential commodities.

“Fund education & healthcare as well as food security, development infrastructure & pay a living wage to workers, military, police & sundry security operatives whose families are starving and groaning. Not less than 90% of Nigerians are tired of bad governance & empty promises for 25 years without hope.

“It’s important. Great leaders are quick to say sorry when the policies are unacceptable to the people. Get it right that subsidies are rights, not privileges.”