Insecurity: Group to Stage Protest on Tuesday, Says Buhari’s Administration Out of Tune With Reality

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has said it would be organizing a protest on Tuesday to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the deteriorating security situation in the northern part of the country.

Spokesman of the group, Abdulazeez Suleiman, in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, said the recent killings and destructions in the region have become very worrisome.

“As a result, at this time of national reckoning, the entire administration seems out of tune with much, if not all, of the rest of the Nigerian population, necessitating a general opinion shift so fast and deeply.

“The consequences of the events of the last few weeks have, therefore, grown politically, economically, and socially too great to be ignored by any genuine northern stakeholders.

“The administration’s various attempts to reassert public confidence with repeated rhetoric of being on top of the situation, seems increasingly discordant as the violent attacks, killings, kidnaps and looting become more regular with calls to protest becoming overwhelmingly loud and widespread” the statement said.

On the modalities for the protest, Suleiman explained, “Recognised participants shall be required to observe public health instructions by wearing facemasks in addition to a blue cloth wristbands for identification and avoidance of undue infiltration.

“The progress, impact and government response to this first phase shall be monitored and carefully assessed before deciding on the next line of action.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CNG stresses here that the protests are absolutely meant to the peaceful exercise of citizens’ constitutional rights, to draw the attention of President Buhari and all levels of authority to the plight of people of the North.

“We urge all participants, other sympathisers, to conduct themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner throughout.

“We also urge governments and security outfits to respect the constitutional rights of citizens to express their opinions peacefully.”