Thousands of young people under the auspices of the Arewa Revival Socio-Cultural Group have formally suspended their participation in the protest against hardship and the high cost of living in Nigeria, citing violence and criminality as major reasons for their decision.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the group’s spokesperson, Mukhtar Abubakar, revealed that they had been in high-level discussions with the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), which had earlier warned of a possible hijack of the protest by unpatriotic and pervasive elements.
This warning is now gradually unfolding in Northern Nigeria, with Kano recording the worst violence in the country so far.
He went on to state that the original intention of the protest was to peacefully and civilly drive home demands for a more responsible and responsive government.
He said the aim is now being undermined by hoodlums and angry mobs who may likely be politically sponsored.
The spokesperson further posited that these ugly developments compelled them to heed the advice of the Civil Society Council and call off the protest.
However, affirming that the Arewa Revival is only suspending participation temporarily to monitor the government’s reaction and the nation’s mood, the group may return to the field if immediate interventions and measures are not taken by the federal and state governments to address the protest demands.
Comr. Mukthar declared that the Arewa Revival is suspending participation in the protest for the next three days, based on discussions and agreements reached with the NCSCN leadership.
The group will not hesitate to return to the field of protest if the occasion demands.
The group applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s civil disposition toward the protest and called on him to immediately deliver a State of the Nation Address to address the protesters’ demands.
