Hardship: MURIC, Miyetti Allah, civil society back out of mass protests

Many civil societies, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have resolved not to participate in planned nationwide protests against economic hardship in the land scheduled for August 1, 2024.

A total of 259 civil society organizations (CSOs) under the Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER) have voiced their opposition to the mass protest idea.

While MURIC gave the same position in a press statement issued on Monday (today) by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Miyetti Allah announced its stand at a press conference on Sunday held in Karu, Nasarawa State.

MURIC’s statement signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, its founder/executive director, worried that the protect could be hijacked by enemies of the nation to cause mayhem, destroy public property and lead to loss of lives as done with the Endsars protests.

The statement read in part, “We are aware of preparations being made to protest against economic hardship in the country.

“Although we have made our stand known concerning inflation and the attendant hardship in the country, we must again reiterate the fact that rising prices, hunger and other forms of hardship are not restricted to Nigeria.

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“Other countries around the world are facing the same predicament and they are finding solutions to it instead of embarking on destructive protests.

“The last #EndSARS protest was a colossal calamity as burning and looting took the central stage.

“Lagos bore the brunt of the damage as more than 300 brand new air-conditioned buses were burnt down by marauding hoodlums. It must not be allowed to happen again.

“Protesters forgot that government has no special property. All such properties referred to as government’s properties belong to the general public. They are owned by the citizens whose taxes were used to procure them.

“Any protest that targets properties is an exhibition of wastefulness, foolishness and madness.

“The trajectory of the new protest being planned has taken a similar dimension. Lagos is being targeted like before and revenge for electoral loss appears to be uppermost on the list of motives.

“No explanation has been given for making Lagos a main target even though the city is far away from the Nigerian capital.

“This gives us more than enough reason to reject the protest. It is irrational, sectional and vengeful. Count us out of it. MURIC will not partake in this protest.”

It added, “MURIC will only join hands with people who want to build Nigeria. We wash our hands off rebellious subjects, enemies of peace.

“We have a duty to remain constant with the motto of our organization which is ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’. We will not participate in burning and looting. We prefer to bring smiles on the faces of Nigerians, not pain and anguish.”

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On its part, Miyetti Allah at the Nasarawa State press conference addressed by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello-Bodejo, the national president, with the support of Engr. Saleh Alhassan, the national secretary, said it believes in peaceful dialogue and not mass protest that could become violent.

Bello-Bodejo said, “Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore unequivocally and strongly asserts that we do not support the planned protests and our members will not be participating.”

He emphasized the association’s preference for constructive engagement with the authorities over mass protests.

The group also praised the recent establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Tinubu administration.

In a related development, Alhaji Abdulkarim Dayyabu, a social critic and leader of the Movement for the Restoration of Justice, expressed scepticism about the authenticity of the faceless groups advocating mass nationwide protests.

Speaking to newsmen in Kano, Dayyabu urged the public to remain patient and supportive of the current leadership, suggesting that the government had been advised on the prevailing issues and was addressing them.

In response to the planned nationwide protests organized by the #EndBadGovernance group, 259 civil society organizations (CSOs) under the Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER) have voiced their opposition.

COTER cautioned the protest organizers at a press conference led by National Coordinator Adeshina Animashaun.

Animashaun noted that the protests could lead to chaos and violence reminiscent of the October 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations.

Hardship: MURIC, Miyetti Allah, civil society back out of mass protests