A non-governmental organization, Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against contemplating the model adopted by the Kenyans in their recent anti-tax protest.
Chairman Board of Trustees of CCC, Retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, gave the warning while addressing newsmen on the centre’s Conflict Trends Analysis (CTA) for the second quarter on Monday in Abuja.
Kolade said the centre was concerned about the antics of those who are mooting the idea of re-enacting in Nigeria, the recent anti-tax crisis that rocked Kenya.
According to him, they believe that such destructive protests in Nigeria will be the surest way of getting the government to solve our current economic challenges.
He said that much as the right to protest was guaranteed in the nation’s constitution, any form of destruction and violence in the name of protest should be avoided.
According to him, the Kenyan experience is not and should not be our democratic model.
“Violence has no redeeming quality and any action that will lead to violence and destruction should be discouraged.
“Nigeria is already assailed by multifaceted internal security challenges, and any call for violent protests will simply open the country up for opportunistic criminals.
“They will take advantage and cause mayhem, destroy public facilities and endanger our peaceful existence.
“The aftermath of ‘EndSars Protest’ is still fresh in our minds and we therefore call on our youths to shun anything that will engender crisis and destruction in any part of our country,” he said.
Kolade called on the government to do more to de-escalate the tension in the polity by proactively addressing all the prevailing challenges confronting the nation.
He said the centre was deeply concerned about the rising tension and restiveness in some parts of the country.
Protest: Don’t adopt Kenya model in Nigeria – Group warns
