A pro #EndSARS campaign group under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned #EndSARS Campaign Nationwide, has said that it was pulling out of the nationwide rally, saying opposition politicians have hijacked the protests meant to draw government’s attention to police brutality in the country.
The coalition on Monday in Abuja in a statement jointly signed by Adewale Akin, South West; Sunday Oche, North Central; Abbas Mohammed, North West; Ibrahim Gaidam, North East and Ifeanyi Edochie, South East, respectively, said that the protest has failed its initial objectives.
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According to them, opposition politicians, their political parties and some criminal elements have cashed in on the genuine protests by youths for their selfish interests.
They also condemned the call by some protesters for resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the development was contrary to the spirit the #EndSARS protests.
They also said that events of the moment, especially the prison break in Benin, Edo State, on Monday morning, were among issues that necessitated it to have a rethink about continuous participation in the protests.
“We are very concerned about the development given that it has resorted to using our well thought youths movement against police brutality to soliciting and receiving funds from some opposition political parties to destabilize Nigeria for their selfish interests.
“This, they have started with the call for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari. We wish to categorically state that the recent call by some of these few groups of disgruntled protesters amongst us is the handiwork of these desperate politicians and political parties who are bent on pulling down our country by all means,” they said.
They lamented the event at Benin City, Edo State Monday morning where suspected protesters broke into a correctional centre, setting free scores of inmates, which is completely out of what informed the protests.
“We agreed never to engage in criminal activities of any kind during these protests, so why the destruction, maiming, blocking of road and extorting road users, stealing and targeting of notable SARS reforms advocates across the country?
“We wish to further state boldly that the protests have been hijacked by politicians and criminals. Consequently, we are pulling out with over 7000 of our members across the country to keep our integrity intact.
“While we call on other well meaning protesters not allow themselves to be used by these selfish politicians and criminals for their political interest, they should select credible youths among themselves to present their demands to the federal government while the ovation is still loud,” they added.
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