Group calls for probe, prosecution of #Endbadgovernance protest organizers
The Patriotism Awareness Forum (PAF), a civil society organization, has called for a thorough investigation into the recent #Endbadgovernance protest that erupted in parts of Nigeria. The group has labeled the protest as an attempted coup, accusing its organizers of attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government under the guise of public dissatisfaction.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by Nelson Ekujumi, the convener, and Peter Claver Oparah, co-convener, PAF condemned the protest as an insurrection that led to widespread looting, destruction of public and private property, and the loss of lives. The organization has urged the authorities to prosecute those responsible for instigating and carrying out what they describe as a violation of the nation’s laws.
PAF echoed the sentiments of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who had earlier characterized the protest as a coup plot. The organization claimed that substantial financial resources and materials were allegedly provided by unscrupulous politicians to incite the violence, with the ultimate goal of illegally toppling the government.
“PAF is demanding a probe and prosecution of the instigators and perpetrators of the insurrection disguised as a hunger protest by unpatriotic, disgruntled, and subversive elements whose main agenda was the overthrow of a legitimately elected democratic government,” the statement read. The group expressed concern over the growing trend of challenging election outcomes through means other than the ballot box, which they view as a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy, peace, and national security.
Recalling the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which they also labeled as an attempted insurrection, PAF warned that such actions, if left unchecked, could set a dangerous precedent. They urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against what they termed “agents of destabilization and anarchy.”
The organization praised the country’s security agencies for their efforts in preventing the protest from escalating further. They commended the agencies’ professionalism in exposing the protest as a coup plot and preventing it from gaining wider support.
PAF also congratulated the Nigerian public for rejecting the protest, which they said attempted to exploit the economic difficulties faced by citizens for political gain. The group urged the government and security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the protest face justice, drawing parallels to recent legal actions taken against similar insurrectionists in the United States and the United Kingdom.
