The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly condemned the violence, looting, and destruction of public and private property that characterised the just concluded nationwide #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protests.
NewsNGR reported that in some northern states like Kaduna, Kano, among others, protesters regrouped and marched through the city’s major streets, waving the Russian flags.
The attendant consequence of the destruction of lives and property, forced the state governments to slam a 24-hour curfew on the various states.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed grief over the loss of lives and injuries sustained during the protests, which took place across the country.
ACF described the actions of the protesters as “inexcusable and unequivocally condemnable,” noting that they negated the reasons given by the organisers of the protests.
“Ahead of the August 2024, planned 10-day national protest, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) had raised fears and warned against the action fearing its potential to lead to the breakdown of law and order.
“The actions and behaviour displayed by the protesters of the poorly organised went far beyond permissible or reasonable limits and actually negated even the nebulously conceptualised reasons given by the faceless organisers of the action;
“The looting, arson, vandalism and general brigandage were totally inexcusable; as was the waving of the Russian flag inexplicable and unequivocally condemnable;
“Predictably, locations in Northern Nigeria were particularly hit by such negative outcomes
“It is inescapable that over time and especially in the last 14 months of the current political administration in Nigeria, there has developed generalised discontent, frustration, anger and disillusionment in the polity regarding the trajectory of public policy planning and implementation,” the Forum said.
Besides, the forum also expressed concern over the widespread discontent and frustration among Nigerians regarding the government’s handling of public policy planning and implementation.
ACF, therefore, urged the Federal and state governments to engage with citizens and respond to their grievances, calling for immediate consultations on the current trajectory of public policy.
The forum also recommended the entrenchment of accountability and good governance principles, a robust anti-corruption drive, and dynamic engagement between citizens and government on public policies.
“As Nigeria counts the sordid costs of the protests, ACF extends condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those that lost lives; commiserates with the injured and sympathises with those whose properties were looted or damaged during the protests,” the statement added.