The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to not use soldiers to forcefully stop the #EndSARS protests that had gripped quite 20 states in Nigeria.
On Saturday, the Nigerian Army announced plans to begin 'Operation Crocodile Smile' amid the continued protests.
Gani Adams
In a letter to President Buhari on Sunday, Adams said he couldn't imagine soldiers being sent to prevent street protests, adding that the military was programmed to fight external aggression and not peaceful demonstators.
He added that using soldiers to quell protests by civilians had already been declared illegal by a Federal supreme court in July 2020.
Adams said, “I can’t imagine soldiers being sent to prevent protests. Soldiers are to fight external aggression. We are handling peaceful protesters. it's wrong to offer the impression that Nigeria is at war with its citizens. We must do everything to market and defend democratic culture.
"I condemn violence altogether forms. I strongly condemn the actions of some security operatives that murdered the protesters. The list available to me shows 20 people are killed across the country. I also condemn within the most profound manner the killing of any protester or the killing of any security official related to the protests.
"The protests are largely peaceful. The resort to violence by a neighborhood of the protesters is condemnable. it's uncalled for. Violence seeks veangace and creates wounds which scars never heal. Violence diminishes critical thinking, undermines democracy and destroys any noble intention of the protesters. It also questions the standard of these behind the protests. On the opposite hand, adoption of a violent response by the state should never be considered an option.
"I saw clips of the attack on the convoy of the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Gboyega Oyetola. this is often detasteful. within the same way I condemn the violent attacks on the convoy of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi. It's unfortunate that the incidence in Osun led to avoidable deaths.
"The police shouldn't just be reformed, it should be transformed. this is often the time for you to figure with the National Assembly to determine state and community policing system in line with the elemental principles of federalism. you've got a golden opportunity to try to to this. plow ahead and take the bull by the horn and save Nigeria from the potential of horrendous evil of a garrison state.”
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon