‘We don’t know the agenda’ — Kaduna groups back out of protest

The Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) says its members will not participate in the planned nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday, Tabara Kato, president of SOKAPU, said it would be unreasonable for the group to join the protest, noting that its intention is not known.

“A well-intentioned protest cannot originate from people who just previously claimed that’religion, ethnicity, and tribe forbid protests against leaders,” the statement reads.

“Only fools embark on a journey whose destination they cannot predict. It is more reasonable and meaningful to remain where we are and manage what we know in order to get what we need.

“For now, at least there is respite on insecurity with hope for improvements, the governments at both federal and state levels are operating a policy of inclusiveness, which marks a clear departure from the immediate past governments in Kaduna state under Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai and Nigeria under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“There is hope for more in this regard if only we will be patient and give the present federal and state governments time to consolidate on their mandates.”

While admitting the current economic hardship, Kato said Bola Tinubu’s administration is engaging stakeholders to stem the hardship.

“Since every government wants to be successful, the federal government under His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Kaduna state Government, under His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Uba Sani, are no exception,” he said.

“They need time with our support to succeed in office. For now, let it be known that SOKAPU is standing with the government at both levels in contrast to participating in any protest in Kaduna state, Nigeria, and in the diaspora.

“We are seriously ready and willing to work with anyone desiring to make Kaduna state and Nigeria peaceful and great at this material time under my watch as President of SOKAPU.”

Also, the Kaduna Concerned Group (KCG) has announced its withdrawal from the planned protest.

At a press conference on Friday, Kamaladdeen Kabiru, spokesperson of the group, said the withdrawal is due to the ambiguity of the mission of the protest.

Kabiru said the group is unhappy with the policies of President Bola Tinubu, adding that the government should address the plight of Nigerians.

“We want to use this medium to express our withdrawal from the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024, not because we are happy with the government policies but because of the fact that the mission behind the said protest is ambiguous and the organisers of the protest refused to make it clear,” he said.

“We wish to state it clearly to the world that we shall plan a better protest with a clear mission at a better time, provided the government does not do the needful.

“We equally wish to use this medium to appeal to the president to listen to the plight of the nation and handle the issues of insecurity, hardship, and the fuel price hike with seriousness.”