While we recognize that the right to peaceful Assembly and protests devoid of violence resides with the citizenry guaranteed by the country’s constitution, previous protests have always been marred with violence, and non meaningful results have been attained besides the frightening death and destruction that often trailed them.

“The EndSars’ consequences are still echoing, and to add to them with catastrophe. Besides, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture today, on a precipice bedeviled with sundry crimes and criminality.

The resurging Boko Haram in the Northeast, the continued abductions and killings by the bandits in the Northwest, the activities of the recalcitrant IPOB in the Southeast and the separatists agenda of the Southwest being fueled by the Yoruba irredentists tacitly approved by their elders will also seize this opportunity to escalate.

Therefore, the nationwide Protests will only offer opportunity for those  criminal elements and hoodlums to infiltrate and hijack the event to unleash their ‘trade’ and inflict more pain on the already economically emasculated people.

We agree as a democracy, citizens should be protected and allowed to express their voices anytime they feel the government is failing them.

In a democratic dispensation, powers must come from the bottom up if citizens are not feeling the impact of the  government, they have the right to raise their voice, but I want to plead with my fellow Nigerians, we are at the edge of total collapse now. Any breach in security caused by a breakdown of law and order will be catastrophic.

Let the leaders handle this issue with decorum, commitment, dedication and listening. That’s why I called both the government and protesters to consider the fragility of our country to avoid plunging us into an abysmal catastrophe.

I want to use this medium to especially appeal to those who want to go on strike (protest) to understand the situation we are in. Please don’t go into violence because we know you are angry because you are hungry.

Let them also know and let the president also see if they have been telling him the stories that don’t add up. When a nation is angry, then the sensible thing to do is to listen to the demands of the people not those of the palace jesters who only see their selfish interests above that of the citizens.

In the Nigeria of today, to say there is no basis of complaining in the current challenges the nation is facing is to close one’s eyes from reality.

There are frightening pains in the polity occasioned by escalating inflation; food inflation and rising cost of commodities and the depreciating value of Naira have brought increasing anguish to the people.These are the current challenges that the Tinubu administration must address.

Let us also revisit the constitution that was given to us by the military. Power must come from the bottom up. There are constitutional matters that need to be addressed if we really need to put to rest recurring regional problems and governance issues which the new constitution should address.

The governance issues are; the  endemic corruption in all facets of our national life, the welfare of the citizens occasioned by impoverishment, resource control etc. One major national challenge is that, our polity is divided along ethnicity and religious bigotry which also needs to be considered.

From the look of things, Nigerians have mobilized themselves in holding  public demonstration across the country, which they  tagged as ‘EndBadGovernance’ to express their displeasure over the hardships created by President Bola Tinubu’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant consequences such an action has caused.

On a final note, a country in crisis requires prayers. However, despite our beliefs, we have all underrated the importance of our collective prayers in averting calamities and catastrophes. Instead of the rumoured distribution of monies to clerics and notable leaders to dissuade the citizens from protesting, I wished such huge amount of money distributed should have been used in prayers and alms to those in need because non of the beneficiaries of those largesse command the respect of the common man anymore.

On a final note, a country in crisis requires prayers. However, despite our beliefs, we have all underrated the importance of our collective prayers in averting calamities and catastrophes. Instead of the rumoured distribution of monies to clerics and notable leaders to dissuade the citizens from protesting, I wished such huge amount of money distributed should have been used in prayers and alms to those in need because non of the beneficiaries of those largesse command the respect of the common man anymore.

In today’s Nigeria, nobody seems to be respected by not only those “Youngsters” preparing and awaiting their “D-Day of August 2024”. Majority of the “impoverished poor” Nigerians don’t even seem to have any “Trust and Confidence” in the politicians, and of recent the religious and traditional leaders” who met with President Tinubu in the “Villa” in Abuja, whom Nigerians seemingly accused of receiving Big Brown Bags (Envelopes), so they said.  Because the Masses are already “Angered” by “Hunger”, a trend which none of the so called leaders seemed to have the intention to find any solution to it. In fact even the 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 States and Abuja as Palliatives which Mr. President announced is yet to have palpably fall into the hands of the hungry Nigerians in some states

If Tinubu’s demand for a two months time from Nigerians to allow him put things in order, I hope he should be given that grace to do the needful and needs to be trusted at least, this time.

Let us all give the President the Chance to do it. Nigerians hoped in the renewed hope of Mr. President being sure that Nigeria will change for good and Nigerians will have relief. But if we carelessly allow this protest to happen and was infiltrated, then we are in for a greater catastrophes to befall our dear fragile country. God forbid.

Dr. Zanna Hassan Boguma FCIPDM FWIP (Zanna Boguma of Borno)