Protests: Patriotic Elders Urge Organizers To Shelve Plans, Say Dialogue The Only Way Out
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Patriotic Elders Forum of Nigeria has urged Organizers of the planned nationwide protests against the current hardships in the country to shelve their plans and dialogue with government so as to address their grievances.
The National President of the Forum, Dr Bature AbdulAziz, made the call during an emergency meeting with representatives from major markets and super markets in Kano on Saturday.
Abdul’Aziz said dialoguing with the government was the only way to address the issues raised by the organizers.
The President argued that protests usually do not achieve the desired goals, instead, they plunge the country into chaos.
During the meeting, he said, the representatives agreed to take proactive steps to forestall looting, in case the planned demonstrations take place.
Such steps, he said, included floating of Emergency Squads to provide security across markets and other business places during the protests.
During the meeting, Abdul’Aziz, who is also National President of the Harmonized Traders Union, inaugurated a 20-member committee to coordinate and supervise the operations of the squads.
In his remarks at the occasion, Alhaji Balarabe Tatari, the Chairman, Kantin Kwari market Traders Association, urged youths to desist from engaging in acts capable of disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“It is incumbent upon us to provide adequate measures to protect Kano as the center of commerce, because we know that protests are usually hijacked by hoodlums who indulge in looting and destroying properties,” Tatari said.
On his part, the Managing Director, Kantin Kwari Textiles Market Management Board, Alhaji Hamisu Dogon Nama, called on traders and other business owners to maintain law and order during the protests.
Similarly, the Managing Director, Sabon Gari/ Galadima and Singa Markets, Alhaji Abdullahi said: “We have informed our members to come out on the day of the protest to protect their business premises.”
