His Excelllecy,
President Muhammadu Buhari,
The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Dear Sir,
AYCC CONDEMN KILLINGS AND URGES FG TO SAVE NIGERIA FROM FALLING INTO A STATE OF ANARCHY.
Your Excellency sir, we urgently write to request for your quick, decisive and all-necessary action over this incessant protest in order to save us from falling into a state of anarchy by the violence that has trailed Nigerians in the recent days.
Even as we’re aware that the right to protest may be a manifestation of the freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, and the right to freedom of speech, yet Nigerian government should not allow this violence to continue.
Your Excelllecy sir, Arewa Youth Consultative Council condemn the killings of youths and officers all across Nigeria.
OUR HEART GOES WITH THE “UNARMED” PEACEFUL PROTESTERS-Khalid Kani
We mourn the loss of lives and sorrowfully wish to lend our voices to the affected families of the protesters and police officers that lost their lives.
We are greatly aggrieved by the avoidable death of our young men and women; they’re our potential assets.
Both the civilians and officers of the Nigerian Police deserve to live. We must all rise to condemn the shedding and spilling of blood of Nigerians irrespective of who they are and for whatever reason; human lives are sacrosanct.
Your Excellency, as concerned and patriotic citizens, we are greatly afraid that Nigeria is currently under an internal attack, backed by a hidden sets of external forces with a sophisticated agenda that cannot be ascertained.
Looking at how rapidly the initial ‘peaceful Protest’ has metamorphosed into a wild, violent and volatile situation that can lead to total anarchy. We can recall that the initial protest was completely about scrapping the SARS UNIT; a branch of the Nigerian Police Force under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.
We’re urging all Nigerians to be conscious of what we’re dealing with. This protest on inception came with five demands that are all humanly progressive; even as the government embarked on the necessary steps in the comprehensive reform of the police, most especially as the Presidential Panel on the Reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the protesters + the National Economic Council presided by the Vice President with the 36 state governors and FCT Minister met on October 15 2020 and directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Enquiry across the country, we are still witnessing more complications.
The demands kept changing and the situations continue to aggravate especially with the recent destruction of courts, Nigerian Port Authority building, shutting down major public roads, attack on the Oba of Lagos, TVC building, Orientel Hotel, Oyingbo Motorpark, over 12 different police stations and several other government buildings.
Arewa Youth Consultative Council wish to remind Nigerians about the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, that as much as right to protest exist, they’re also subjected to certain limitations and prohibitions especially on “propaganda of war” and advocacy of “national, racial or religious hatred”. Articles 18 to 21 explained the restrictions of certain freedoms where necessary, quoting “in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”
Your Excellency, we are greatly concerned about the future of Nigeria’s peace and security, that’s why we calling on your quick response to tackle these scenarios, as the complications of the protest continue to change styles, from peaceful to violent, progressively organized to dangerously uncertain. Arewa and Nigerian youths should be mindful of our future, we should never allow ourselves to be used as elements of violence or a threat to the interests of national security or public safety. We must disassociate ourselves from civil disobedience and violating the laws of Nigeria.
Your Excellency sir, this protest is a threats to our collective survival, especially from what we’ve seen in Benin City, Lagos lekki gate, Plateau, Abuja, Kano and most threatening is the opening of Soro Soke radio, the prison breaks, the internet hacks, burning down of hundred buildings and cars, killings and all sort of destructions that are directly affecting people’s lives and worsening the nation’s economic situation.
Dear Nigerians, we all supposed to learn from Lebanon, Spain, Chile and Bolivia, Algeria, Catalonia, Ecuador, France, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iraq and Kazakhstan but most scaring is to learn carefully from the sufferings of countries like Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Syria; all of whom started from peaceful Protest to regrettable conditions.
We must be careful not to destroy our country by ourselves. We must thread cautiously on actions that may have negative consequences on our today, tomorrow and future generation.
In conclusion, as progressive partners of Arewa and Nigeria’s peace, stability and development, we demand that all law enforcement agents, government bodies and national stakeholders should be charged to see an end to this protests, if possible peacefully and amicably. Let all security personnel operate within the rule of law, human relations and with a very high professional and ethical standards. Nigerian policing at this critical time must complement the dictates of the best international policing practices even as they must suppress all forms of violent acts. Nigerian youths must also restrains themselves, let’s have second thought, let’s ponder, let’s analyze the situations critically.
Finally, we appeal to all Nigerians especially youths, to be law abiding, responsible and strictly cautious of the social media, we must be careful how we receive or share information especially on issues related to this protest. Uprisings and social violence, protest and riots, civil disobedience and sustained street demonstrations are the key enemies to every country, they start peaceful and end violently. Don’t allow the enemies of Nigeria to divide us. Kindly accept our highest regards. Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Hon. Muhammad Ibrahim Milb,
National Director of Media and Communications.
For:
National President.
