The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has cautioned Nigerians against the planned nationwide protest against hardship tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Islamic group acknowledged the real discontentment and disillusionment of Nigerians but warned of the imminent consequences of the protest.
The JNI stated, “Arising from the recent calls and counter-calls for protest in Nigeria, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty, and escalating national security challenges, it becomes very worrying and requires immediate attention. Therefore, JNI under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility appeals to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as other critical stakeholders and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to urgently engage in critical and realistic dialogue before the situation degenerates or snowballs into an uncontrollable scenario. Nigerians no doubt are passing through difficult challenges, but protest might not be the panacea.”
The group highlighted global examples where protests led to negative outcomes, saying, “The global landscape is replete with sordid tales of repercussions of protests in Libya, Syria, Iraq, US (Capitol Hill), Ukraine, Tunisia, Sudan, Russia, among others did not yield desired results, rather they rendered most of these countries either ungovernable or partly destroyed. A glance through the events in Kenya gives some glimpses of what might envelop our dear nation Nigeria, which is struggling to survive the multiple challenges that dot the landscape of the country. Undoubtedly, protest in Nigeria could mar our efforts at addressing these challenges.”
The Sultan of Sokoto urged Nigerians to learn from the bad experiences of protests in other countries and avoid the traps they fell into. He stressed that the government should tackle the real discontentment and disillusionment of the people head-on.
JNI emphasized the need for the Nigerian government to make more efforts to secure the country, ensure access to lands for cultivation, provide subsidized farming materials, promote industrialization, and create self-sustaining agro-businesses in the six geopolitical zones. The group also called for enhanced quality education, especially primary, technical, and vocational education.
Citing Qur’anic guidance, JNI stated, “The Qur’anic guidance in trying moments remains thus ‘when the suffering reached them from us, why then did they not learn humility?’ Qur’an 6:43. Hence, sober reflection, sincere humility, and continued prayer to Allah, the ever merciful is the antidote to the quagmire. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said ‘supplication is a weapon of the believer and the light of the heavens and the earth’. Let’s therefore be in continued prayers for Allah’s apt intervention. In this time of challenge, we pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders, and for tranquility to prevail in Nigeria.”