From Maawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, has appealed to the Nigerian youths to suspend the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest and dialogue with the government for the improvement of the economy and national development programmes.
The legislator, in a statement issued to journalists in Katsina by his Special Assistant on Media, Sardauna Francis, said the call for the youths to discontinue the protest followed incidents of looting and destruction of lives and properties in some parts of the country.
Ahmed, who is a member representing Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency of Katsina State, added that the voices of the demonstrators have been heard, and both States and Federal Governments have put in place various measures to quell the nation’s challenges.
He, however, expressed dismay that some hoodlums and unscrupulous elements have hijacked the protest, looted and destroyed critical national economic assets, adding that such nefarious activities would further compound the problems in the country.
He said protests in Nigeria usually open doors for looters and hoodlums on Nigerian streets or groups of misfits to assume advantage of the day, without fulfilling the public’s concerned intentions and objectives, hence the need for its immediate suspension.
The lawmaker said: “In the light of reports of looting, destruction, and loss of lives in some parts of the country, I use this medium to beseech all our brothers and sisters to kindly withdraw from the protest and embrace dialogue as a more civilised alternative to drive our demands home for the collective well-being of all Nigerians.”
While noting that the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in section 40 of the Nigerian constitution, Ahmed said the looting, killing and destruction of public and private properties serves as a serious menace to our economic and national growth and development.
