MURIC urges Nigerians to shun new protests

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigerians to ignore any invitation to join any new protest.

The MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, gave the advice on Monday in a statement.

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“We like to remind Nigerian Muslims in particular and all citizens in general that the last experience we had during #EndSARS protests was very bitter as it pushed the country to the edge of the precipice.

“Protests are legitimate as long as they are peaceful but the last one was hijacked by disgruntled politicians, religious bigots and ethnic jingoists. There is undisputable evidence showing that funds for the protest were provided by people who lack integrity and whose sources of income lack credibility.

“These are people who have been engaging in criminal activities. They have been playing hide and seek with the police and their topmost wish has always been to get rid of all signs of law enforcement agents. Unfortunately innocent but gullible Nigerians played into their hands and became weapons of mass destruction,” Akintola said.

He said that the organisation expect the protests to abate the moment government accepted all the five demands made by the youth but this did not happen.

The MURIC boss that the demands were expanded until they became frivolous, ridiculous and irrational; and that the ensuing destruction of properties during the protest was too massive, enough to discourage another protest so soon.

He said, “Only the apostles of Shaytan (Satan) will be happy at the sight of more than 150 new luxurious buses and other assets of the Lagos State government burnt by hoodlums during the last protest.

“To what end? Does Governor Sanwoolu ride those buses? It is so illogical. These were buses meant for poor Lagosians.

“How could we allow ourselves to be deceived into destroying facilities intended to make life better for the poor? Are we fighting the masses? Nevertheless, we believe that Lagos will rise again to the chagrin of envious eyes and enemies of progress.

“It is for these reasons that we are calling on Nigerian Muslims in particular and other citizens in general not to join any new protest. Enough is enough.”