Posted by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the departing chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, urged Nigerians to refrain from using violence during their protests, expressing alarm over the growing number of uprisings across the nation.
The recent economic downturn and the high cost of goods and services have sparked protests around the nation.
According to Hayab, protests that damage government structures, businesses, or infrastructure will undoubtedly be detrimental to Nigeria.
Nigerians must thus work together to reconsider the best course of action in order to escape the current predicament. The reason is that when there is widespread hunger and resentment, sincere protests may be readily exploited by thugs and self-serving organizations to wreak massive havoc on defenseless people.
The Hayab stated unequivocally in the statement titled “Addressing Nigeria’s Rising Cost Of Living Needs Wisdom” that the majority of Nigerians are not having an easy time due to the increase in commodity prices.
Therefore, he said, Nigerians should not allow any individual, group, or organization to incite them to stage street protests against the country’s high cost of living because some evil elements might use the event to undo the progress the country has made over the years, making the suffering even worse now and having an effect on the future.
Therefore, he tasked religious leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders, old and young Nigerians, and the political class to work together to find solutions through advice that is constructive for the country’s future and to avoid allowing themselves to undo the years’ worth of democratic gains.
“Remember that poverty knows no ethnic group, faith, region, or political leanings, which is why suffering affects everyone,” he said. Therefore, in order to resolve the crisis, Nigerians must unite. Furthermore, the current administration cannot be solely held accountable for the current economic difficulties.