July 27, (THEWILL) – The Patriotic Elders Forum of Nigeria has urged organisers of the planned nationwide protests against the current hardships in the country to shelve their plans and dialogue with the government 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 supermarkets in Kano on Saturday.
Abdul’Aziz said dialogue with the government was the only way to address the issues raised by the organisers.
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, include the floating of Emergency Squads to provide security across markets and other business places during the protests.
During the meeting, Abdul’Aziz, who is also the National President of the Harmonised 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 of 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 centre 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 of 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.”
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
