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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction that occurred during the nationwide protests against hunger in several urban centres across Nigeria from August 1st to 10th, 2024.
The ACF also condemned the looting, vandalism, and destruction of both public and private property that marred the protests.
According to the ACF, the protests, initially planned to last for ten days, quickly escalated into near-generalized social disorder, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The Forum criticised the actions of the protesters, describing them as, “going far beyond permissible limits”, and questioning the motivations behind what it termed as poorly organized protests driven by faceless organizers.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, stressed that, “We had raised concerns about the potential for these protests to lead to a breakdown of law and order, and sadly, our apprehensions have been vindicated by the unfortunate turn of events.
“The waving of the Russian flag by some protesters was not only inexplicable but also unequivocally condemnable”.
While acknowledging the widespread discontent, frustration, and anger among the Nigerian populace, particularly over the past 14 months of the current administration, ACF noted that the existential conditions faced by citizens must not be ignored.
“The dire living conditions, lack of education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, coupled with the ongoing insecurity in the country, require urgent attention.
“The constitutional rights of citizens to express grievances through demonstrations and protests must be respected. However, there is a need for robust and dynamic engagement between citizens and government representatives on the direction of public policies.
“We urge calm and resilience among citizens as they struggle to move on from the devastating effects of the protests”. The statement said.
The Forum welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement of his intention to engage the public in consultations on the current trajectory of public policy.
“These consultations be well-organized and inclusive of various stakeholders, including community-based organizations, interest groups, professional associations, and religious leaders”. The statement added.
The ACF called on public officials to shun ostentatious lifestyles and insensitive utterances, which contribute to widespread despair and dissatisfaction among ordinary citizens.
The Forum also called for the entrenchment of accountability and good governance at all levels of government and urged a reinvigorated anti-corruption drive, stating that previous efforts have been “feeble and cosmetic.”
