The Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) has decried the politicisation of the #EndSARS nationwide protests, saying given ethnic and religious dimensions to the protests is not in the best interest of the country.
The National Youth President of the association, Engr. Daniel Kadzai, at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, also rejected calls for the breakup of the country.
He said that going by the recent happenings in the country in the past few days, heralding the #EndSARS protests, CNNC believes matters raised by the youths during protests are cogent and simply products of bottled-up resentment in the hearts of most Nigerians especially the youths over the neglect in the responsibility by successive governments in the last 30 years.
“It is important to raise critical concern over the escalating violence affecting innocent people of Nigeria under the guise of #EndSARS protests where many lives have been lost and billions of naira properties are looted or burnt to ashes amidst the ongoing economic crisis in our country.
“Consequently, CNNC condemns the killings of innocent citizens and all atrocities committed by those against the unity and progress Nigeria. The perpetrators must be brought to book, however, we urge justice with mercy particularly in these complex circumstances,” Kadzai said.
He expressed dissatisfaction to how a protest that has revealed so much of the plight of the Nigerian has been hijacked by anarchists and enemies of Nigeria, and even attempted to import dangerous religious and ethnic sentiments to set Nigeria into unending crisis, as evident in the targeted attacks on worships places of both Christians and Muslims.
He said, “How can we a explain hunger, anger in the land and the desperate poverty in the land with huge bailout given to governors, excess crude funds and metric tons of food stuffs sent across Nigeria states.
“Huge amount spent on school feeding programme is another big problem that MUST also be addressed.”
He said that there is an urgent need to come up with humane and appropriate strategies for making the palliatives available to the Nigerians who desperately need them in a more respectful and orderly manner.
“Access to food in these times of pandemic and lockdown is a critical matter globally, as it is in Nigeria,” he said.
He therefore urged the youths to choose dialogue and non-violence as the best possible approach for bringing forward their grievances.
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