Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Charles Soludo has described peaceful protests and agitation as critical ingredients of living democracy, saying it should be encouraged.
Soludo also said that regrettably, the initial peaceful protest later lost its strategic direction.
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Soludo in a statement said his children, especially his daughter who had been a victim of the harassment and extortion by SARS, joined in solidarity with their colleagues in protesting against police brutality.
“Given the enormity of the events of the past weeks, I believe that as a citizen, I have a duty, aside from possible private advisory to the FGN, to share preliminary thoughts on the raging national conversation.
“Over the past two weeks, I have watched with heightened trepidations the horrifying videos about the protests on social media and the unfortunate events that unfolded.
“I have been deeply saddened by the colossal costs in terms of lost lives and properties as well as the humongous blow to an already dreadful economy.
According to him, the future of Nigeria called for an emergency “rather than narrower federal government response as no body can clap with one hand.
“As I ponder the events of the past weeks and the future of our youths, I am convinced that this is the time for that deeper and structured national conversation about the future of our youths.
“Our children and youths constitute the bridge to the future, and their future is the future of Nigeria. Such a structured dialogue under whatever platform should be dominated by the youths from the 36 states and FCT at the centre of the table.
“It could be an ad-hoc or permanent Commission, but with defined timelines to deliver results.
“If they want to suggest their own version of Nigerian constitution, let them do so.
“It is their future and that of their children that is mostly at stake and so, let’s hear them,” Soludo advised.
