By Imrana Abdullahi
The director general of the Confederation of APC Support Groups, Prof. Kailani Muhammad, has stated that protesters who raised Russian flags during the ongoing hunger protests should face punishment to serve as a deterrent.
Prof. Kailani also appealed to the protesters of the ongoing hunger protests across the nation to forget bitterness and continue dialogue with the federal government to address their demands.
Hundreds of Nigerians have protested since August 1 against President Bola Tinubu‘s painful economic reforms, including a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation, and inflation reaching three-decade highs.
Last week, some protesters waved Russian flags during protests in northern states, underscoring concerns about increased Russian activity in Nigeria.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, he said Nigeria is a sovereign nation, and there is no way Nigerians should raise another country‘s flag while exercising their fundamental rights.
“The EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, initiated by the youth on July 1, 2024, underscores this urgent need. However, we must ensure it does not escalate into a crisis, as crisis management is far more costly than conflict resolution.
“Historically, we have witnessed events such as the Tiv Massacre, the Wild-Wild West of the 1960s, and the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1971. Although Nigeria has survived these challenges, the nation bears the scars.
„Many protesting youth may lack direct experience of these historical events, making it our responsibility to caution against actions that could destabilise the country and incite chaos.
„I earnestly appeal to Nigerian youth to forgo bitterness and engage in constructive dialogue with the government regarding their concerns. There is no doubt that the nation faces significant challenges, including widespread hunger.
„President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of these issues and, as a responsive leader, has begun implementing measures to address them. He has initiated the distribution of 20 trailers of 25 kg bags of rice to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,“ he said.
Speaking further, Prof. Kailani commended Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for criticising Northern leaders who have held positions in the past 15 years, holding them accountable for the region‘s numerous problems.
„We urge the youth to engage positively with the Bola Tinubu administration to address these issues amicably, ensuring we collectively benefit from the president‘s long-term plans for the nation. We commit to following up with the government to fulfil all promises.“
He also urged that the person who made statements in Lagos that the Igbo must go should be arrested, noting that such comments can break the country
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