The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to tackle the soaring pump prices of fuel and the escalating food costs plaguing the nation. This appeal arrives just as Nigerian youths gear up for a nationwide hunger protest from August 1 to 10.
With the country bracing for unrest, the urgency of the situation is urgent. Nigerians, utterly exasperated, are ready to take to the streets. The sentiment is clear, enough is enough.
Dr. Bulus Yohanna, the State CAN Chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, issued a plea to the Catholic faithful, urging them to avoid the planned protest. In his Sunday message, titled “Let Us Shun Protest and Violence,” he emphasized that protests and violence have historically failed to yield positive outcomes.
“Christian faithful should not join the proposed nationwide protest, as genuine protests can easily be hijacked by hoodlums and selfish groups, causing enormous havoc on innocent citizens,” Yohanna warned. Citing Romans 13:1-3, he reminded church leaders, local government coordinators, and parents to counsel their members and children against rebelling against constituted authority.
Yohanna called for peace and dialogue instead. “As children of God and responsible citizens known for peace, I urge us all to shun the protest and speak to our children, wards, and congregation members,” he stated. He pointed out that other well-meaning Nigerians and youths have declared their intent to avoid the nationwide protest, and emphasized that CAN, Niger State, would not partake in the exercise but would rather advocate for peaceful dialogue and continued prayer for the nation.
He further elaborated, “Peaceful protests with clear demands are good, but such could be hijacked by miscreants and perceived as a security threat, leading to arrests and shootings. We cannot afford to lose any of our children. Violence has never led to positive results; it only causes destruction, loss of lives, and setbacks.”
Yohanna also noted that “major stakeholders in Niger State have agreed not to join the protest, especially as the former Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has reduced the prices of grains and promised to alleviate the people’s suffering.”
So, the stage is set. Let’s see how this unfolds. Will the call for peace and dialogue prevail, or will the boiling frustration of the masses boil over into the streets?
