The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Nigerians irrespective of their political, religious, and ethnic background to embrace peace following the recent violence recorded in various parts of the country.
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who doubles as the Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Committee, made the call in a statement on Saturday.
He said the party was saddened by the unfortunate tragedy that had enveloped the country in the last few days.
The governor blamed the incidents on hoodlums who he said took over what was supposed to be a peaceful protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
He stated that the people have no other country than Nigeria and pleaded with the youths to halt the #ENDSARS protests for the collective corporate interest of the nation.
Governor Buni advised Nigerians to reflect and embrace peace, especially at a time of national tragedy such as this.
He stressed that it was not a time to play politics or dance to the gallery to score cheap political points.
Rather, the APC caretaker chairman stressed the need for the people to put Nigeria first and come together to rally around the government to build sanity and strengthen peace and unity in the country.
He specifically assured the youths that their message has been “heard loud, clear, and well understood”.
On the way forward, Governor Buni urged the youths to take on the needed engagement with all the structures of government to address all the concerns around the protest and effectiveness of the government in general.
He appealed to them to disengage themselves from the activities of criminal elements who he insisted have taken over the protests and were perpetrating violence such as destruction of property and attack on innocent Nigerians.
A file photo of cars burnt by hoodlums during the violence in Lagos on October 21, 2020.
As a party, the governor promised that the APC would take every step to support the government to bring the unwholesome situation to an immediate end.
He added that all those found culpable in the violence would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Read the full statement below:
Appeal For Peace And Normalcy In Nigeria
The All Progressives Congress is saddened by the unfortunate tragedy that had enveloped some parts of the country in the last few days by hoodlums who took over what was supposed to be a peaceful protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police and therefore plead with Nigerians to halt the #ENDSARS protests for the collective corporate interest of our dear country. We have no other country than Nigeria.
We are committed to the ideals of democracy and we recognize the inalienable rights of our citizens to demand for changes in conditions which trample on their liberties, freedom of association, freedom of speech and wellbeing through peaceful means and rule of law.
We acknowledge the peaceful commencement of the protests until it became violent, destructive and disorderly as hoodlums regrettably seized the opportunity in the protests and virtually took over.
On behalf of the leadership and membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we solemnly condole with the families of our countrymen and the families of policemen who lost their loved ones and pray that Almighty God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
We also extend our empathy to all those whose properties were torched and pray that Almighty God will replenish it. We pray we never experience such avoidable and unnecessary horrendous carnage in our dear fatherland.
It is gladdening that President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, had quickly responded and disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police (SARS) as demanded by the protesting youth.
The party also welcomed the decision for comprehensive reforms, including the review of salaries of the Nigeria Policemen as announced by Mr President.
Our dear Compatriots, let us reflect and embrace peace; at a time of national tragedy such as this, it should not be a time for playing politics, it is no time to dance to the gallery to score cheap political points.
It is a time for introspection and Nigeria first. Let’s come together irrespective of our political, religious and ethnic differences we should rally around the government to build sanity and strengthen peace and unity to ensure the corporate existence of our country.
To our youth, your message has been heard loud, clear, and well understood. The next stage that must follow is the needed engagement with all the structures of government to address all the concerns around the protest and effectiveness of government in general.
It is imperative for the youths to extricate themselves from the activities of the criminal elements who have taken over the protests and perpetrating violence, destruction of property and attacking innocent Nigerians.
As a party, we will take every step to support the government to bring this unwholesome situation to an immediate end. We will make sure that all those found culpable will face the wrath of the law. For it is the desire of all Nigerians that a peaceful atmosphere returns to the country for the good of the greatest number of our dear countrymen.
The party, therefore, join President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in appealing to our youths to call off the protests for peace and normalcy to return to our dear country.
The more united we are as a people, the more peace we have and the more secured we are in our country; the more progressive we all become and the more abundant shared prosperity for our children.
