The National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), a frontline security news association, has urged young Nigerians who are prepared to launch a nationwide protest across the federation on August 1, 2024, to do so with the utmost decency and responsibility for their nation.
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The security news beat association urged the youths to exercise caution so as not to buck the trend and noted that the planned protest has started to produce positive results even before its official start date. They were also urged to engage in dialogue with the government as the best means of achieving positive outcomes from the protest. ‘Protests, as a vehicle to vent one’s problems, are a strong aspect of democracy and are also enshrined in the Constitution for all citizens to make their views known,’ read the statement signed by Comrade Oki Samson, the association’s national president.
Protests have been crucial to the growth of every known democracy. Nigeria is not an exception, since demonstrations have played a crucial role in our transition from military to civil governance. Protests are welcomed, but they must be orderly, composed, peaceful, and led by prominent figures. People who aren’t concerned with the welfare of the public can frequently take over a protest that lacks a face and a leader.
For this reason, after the streets, discussion is the best option. Since the protests were first proposed around three weeks ago, the NAOSNP has noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the FCTA Youth Secretariat, approved the loan for students, signed legislation establishing the minimum wage, and put an end to the controversy surrounding the NNPCL/Dangote refinery by directly selling crude oil to the Nigerian refinery. The Federal Government’s recent actions would eventually help Nigerians, no doubt.
The association therefore pleaded with the young people to make sure that their intended action produced more favourable results and to avoid letting their protest go out of control. The group declared: “While every Nigerian has the constitutional right to protest, violence, looting, arson, and mindless destruction are not characteristics of protest.”
Protesting in any way other than nonviolently is illegal. The whole force of the law will be applied to protesters who attack people, plunder businesses, set fire to public property, and devastate our commonwealth. The group urged the young people participating in the protests to keep an eye out and use their own marshals to root out any evil forces that could try to infiltrate them in order to do them harm, destroy their property, and harm their reputation.
Additionally, it exhorted security organisations, particularly the Nigeria Police, to uphold their responsibility to safeguard people and property during this volatile time. They asked the Nigeria Police to use the amicable strategy that the Lagos State Command had implemented at the most recent demonstration that the Nigeria Labour Congress had organised a few months prior. Similarly, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), tasked with safeguarding vital infrastructure, needs to meet expectations by erecting their duty post and making sure that no vandals approach national sites.
It is the responsibility of Nigerian Immigration and Customs to patrol the borders to make sure that no illegal immigrants enter the nation and that no weapons, ammunition, or other weaponry make their way in. The group argues that even if the nation needs direction badly, it is not the time to assign blame or play ethnic politics; rather, it is the moment to take accountability. It is crucial to remember that participating in a protest is a decision, and nobody should be intimidated, coerced, or compelled to do so.
It is imperative that the demonstrators comprehend that a 10-day demonstration is not beneficial for the country or its people. It hinders the advancement of society and the economy. We must all work to prevent another October 2020 #EndSars protest, the northern post-election crisis of 2011, the 2023 election crisis, and the many other crises the country has faced that resulted in significant destruction and fatalities.
