The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar and President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, have pleaded with Nigerians protesting the hunger, bad governance violence and killings to call it off.
The two religious leaders, who are Co-Chairmen of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), said in a joint statement that they are imagining the many lives and properties that would be destroyed if the protest continues as many lives have already been lost and properties damaged at the first day of the protest.
They also called on the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearnings and needs of the citizens in order to put to an end actions that can destroy the country.
According to the joint statement: “The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), under the leadership of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) observes with heavy heart the happenings in the country at the moment.
“The protest that commenced in a peaceful manner on Thursday, August 1, 2024 despite pleas from all quarters, took a turn for the worse and became violent later in the day. In just a few hours lives and property were lost due to this unfortunate scenario.
“It is without doubt that there is hunger and hardship in the country but civil unrest is not the solution as it would only further aggravate the already frail state of the nation. NIREC hereby calls on fellow citizens of Nigeria to please call off this protest and give the Government a chance to redeem itself.
“In just one day lives and enormous amount of property have been destroyed. Imagine if this continues for a prolonged period of time, only God knows the extent of damage that would be incurred.
“The Council calls on the security agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties. NIREC urges the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearning and needs of the citizens. We need a peaceful and tranquil nation we can be proud to call our own. May God bless us all,” the statement reads.
