The pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, has urged the organisers of the planned nationwide protests scheduled for August 1, 2024, in Nigeria to engage in dialogue and exercise patience with the government led by President Bola Tinubu.
The group appealed for a peaceful resolution and urged the organisers to avoid resorting to violence during the demonstrations.
Afenifere advised Nigerians to disregard earlier support for the protest by Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, clarifying that such views do not represent the group’s stance.
The group also stressed the need to avoid a crisis like Kenya’s that could potentially harm Nigeria’s struggling economy.
Acting Secretary General Abagun Kole Omololu called on security services to protect citizens from potential violence by those exploiting the protests.
Afenifere acknowledged the country’s economic challenges and urged the government to address these issues, stating that they support the right to peaceful protests but stand against protests leading to chaos and violence.
“On the authority of the Leader of Afenifere, Chief R.F. Fasoranti, OFR, Afenifere states that; it acknowledges the realities of economic challenges and hunger in the land, while we also cannot deny that there is a global economic downturn ravaging most nations of the world, developed, developing or underdeveloped alike.
“We therefore call on the government at the federal and subnational levels to step up efforts to address these issues with all in their power. It is every citizen’s right to protest as a way of headlining their grievances to the government.
“Afenifere appreciates the philosophy of protest that is meaningful, purposeful, and corrective at its core, and would stand for the citizens’ rights so long as its objectives are noble, peaceful, and not designed to cause rage and mayhem, “the statement partly reads.
The group encouraged peaceful protests and dialogue, adding that the present government should be given time to improve the economy.
“In light of the above, it, therefore becomes necessary for Afenifere to declare its stance against the proposed ‘rage’ given the undercurrents of threats of hijack and descent into anarchy while asking youths and the general citizenry to exercise restraints, embrace dialogue, and give the government enough latitude to restore confidence in the economy,” the statement added.