Revolutionnow protest, wake-up call for FG- Catholic Archbishop
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/08/revolutionnow-protest-wake-up-call-for.html
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, has
urged the Federal Government to see the ongoing “#RevolutionNow” protest
as a wake-up call to address the untold hardship Nigerians were
undergoing.
Martins made the plea on Wednesday in Lagos while reacting to the
ongoing agitations for better living conditions for Nigerians, urging
the government to ensure protection of their lives and property.
He said in a statement that President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration should also see the agitations as an opportunity to
directly hear the complaints of Nigerians.
According to him, this will enable the government to redouble its
efforts toward fulfilling their constitutional role of securing lives
and property of the people.
The archbishop expressed displeasure over the rising cases of
insecurity across the country, particularly the kidnapping and killing
of innocent Nigerians by armed bandits.
“Except urgent and concrete measures are taking to reassure Nigerians
of safety of their lives and property across the country, things may
soon get out of hands.
“People may be forced to resort to self-help, if the government and security agencies continue to fail them.
“The ongoing protests by some groups is a reflection of the growing
decay in the land and should be a wake-up call for the president to be
more creative and decisive in addressing various agitations bothering
the minds of Nigerians.
“Clamping down on the protesters will not make the problems to
disappear. Rather, I urge him, as the father of the nation, to pay
attention to the issues that bother the citizens.
“The fears being expressed about the state of the nation are genuine
and they deserve to be looked into urgently so as to save this nation
from further distress.
“President Buhari needs to address the nation on these issues and give people the much-needed reassurance and hope.
“If this is not forthcoming, people may feel free to interpret events as they wish,” Martins said.
He said that there was need for speedy arraignment of those arrested during the protest in the court of law.
“The continuous detention of the protesters without trial may further
paint the government as only paying lip service to the tenets of
democracy.
“The proper and real dividend of democracy include freedom of
expression and assembly, including the freedom to protest,” he said.
The archbishop, however, lauded the recent judgment of the Kaduna
High Court, which granted Sheik El Zakzaky and his wife bail to travel
to India for medical treatment.
He urged the Federal Government to obey the court’s judgment and
other similar court judgments as evidence of its avowed commitment to
the rule of law.
The cleric said that the country was ruptured and in need of healing.
He also called on the state governors to intensify efforts to work
with the various law enforcement agencies as well as traditional
institutions in order to curb insecurity across the nation, especially
on the highways.
“The people who unleashed mayhem on travellers on the highways seem
to be foreigners who allegedly infiltrated the ranks of the herdsmen.
“We urge the governors to collaborate with all necessary groups to
flush out these foreigners from their territories and free the nation of
their criminal activities,” Martins added.