Protests in Nigeria “always turn violent”: Archbishop Warns, Calls for Peaceful Protests, Action on Life’s “basic needs”

“Once there is a peaceful demonstration, nobody should obstruct that; no government should stop Nigerians protesting against bad governance, hunger, and poverty. People should be allowed to express themselves for we are in a democracy, not in a military dictatorship,” the Local Ordinary of Abuja since November 2019 emphasized. 

The planned protests, he went on to say, are “justified because when people are hungry, when they are deprived of basic needs of life, they are bound to protest.”

In Nigeria, Archbishop Kaigama said, “Things have suddenly become so expensive. Even the cheapest food item you could buy in the market is now not affordable. People are in a terrible situation of poverty and hunger.”

He challenged Nigeria’s political leaders to move with speed to address the economic challenges.

“Economically, there has to be a tightening of the belt in the sense that those in authority must do their best to see that there is economic progress, economic advancement,” the 65-year-old Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese said.

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He added, “I hope something will be done by our leaders immediately and effectively.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned against the country’s planned protests, saying they may destroy the West African country, which is still reeling from the destruction that accompanied the #ENDSARS and #RevolutionNow street protests.

In a July 26 statement, the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said that while the association is in solidarity with Nigerians in their suffering owing to the country’s economic hardships, engaging in demonstrations is likely to result in the violence that has accompanying Kenyan and Pakistan protests. 

“Peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement, allowing the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable. However, the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan,” the President of the entity that includes representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) said. 

He urged Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances, and added, “We recommend giving the government more time to address these pressing concerns.”

Abah Anthony John contributed to the writing of this story

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