Yoruba sociopolitical and cultural organisation, Afenifere, has condemned recent calls by some people “hiding under the last hunger protest”.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the group said the country’s democratic dispensation “should not be truncated for any reason”.
Afenifere noted that the recent hunger protests became violent in some states, leading to the destruction and looting of properties, while lives were reportedly lost in some areas.
The group lamented that some protesters “brazenly” hoisted flags associated with Russia, even as some maintained that the insignia on the flags were that of the Nigerian Army.
“Whether the flags belonged to Russia or the army, the message is more or less the same – inciting the taking-over of government through an unconstitutional means,” the statement reads.
“Since the protest was ostensibly called to push for an end to the hunger and other sundry deprivations in the land, how come they look in the direction of either the military or a foreign power? It would be a height of self-delusion to assume that the intervention of either the military or a foreign power will put an automatic stop to hunger in the land.”
The organisation noted that in some of the Northern States, not only were properties looted and destroyed but brazen calls for a coup also rent the air.
“It is still the best in our current situation because of its inherent characteristics of making the people the custodians of political mandate. Its elastic nature allows various tendencies to operate as long as they do so within the ambit of the law.
“This is a far cry from what is obtainable under a military government. So, let us give it a chance,” the statement added.
