#EndSARS Protest! Nigeria Should Learn From Mistakes That Consumed Brutal Regimes In Mali, Libya, Egypt, Uganda – CUPP

Following reported ban on peaceful protest by Nigerians against police brutality in the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigerian Opposition Coalition (CUPP), has called on the APC-led Federal Government to learn from the mistakes that consumed brutal regimes of Keita of Mali, Gaddafi of Libya, Mubarak of Egypt, Idi Amin of Uganda etc who deployed armed forces against Innocent Protesters.

CUPP, stated this in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, on Thursday.

The statement said that anything attempt to draft soldiers into the streets to contain the protest would spill doom for the nation.

CUPP rejected the ban on protest and the alleged use of armed thugs to attack protesters, describing the move as provocative, primitive, barbaric, autocratic, illegal and an act capable of igniting more confusion and clear signs government is not ready to end brutality against citizens.

The opposition warned the APC-led government to respect the constitutional rights of patriotic young Nigerians to protest and not hide under the cover of Covid-19 regulations that they have never obeyed to attack heroic protesters.

While rejecting the reported ban on protests as announced by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, CUPP stated that any clampdown and use of armed thugs on protesters will backfire.

The group, however advised the Army Chief of Staff not to drag Nigeria Army into further politics and deploying soldiers against innocent civilians.

It urged the Army Chief to show force against Boko Haram and bandits that have taken over parts of the country including Buhari’s village and not innocent protesters.

CUPP said rather than plan to thwart the peaceful protest ongoing nationwide, the Federal Government should focus on ending brutality of security forces and insecurity and corruption ridden administration as key to ending protest.

The statement reads; “banning legitimate and peaceful protest by Nigerians expressing their right to air their views and anger over brutal actions of an incompetent and brutal regime being visited on the people with support of the regimes brutal security forces.”, was not the answer to ending police brutality.

“It must be stated that instead of addressing the genuine issues of the protesters, agents of the Federal Government, its agencies, allies and supporters have resorted to hiring armed thugs to attack the peaceful protesters. This act is not only provocative and barbaric, it is also illegal, autocratic, primitive and capable of igniting more confusion and clear signs government is not ready to end brutality against citizens.

“That statement from the Nigerian Army threatening peaceful Nigerians is a joke taken too far. The protests are wholly a civil action and does not in any way concern the Army. Or is a day like this why the President has refused to sack the Service Chiefs? Nigerians are in shock and the entire world is amazed that we could degenerate so quickly to such pre civilization era.

“CUPP urges the Federal Government to focus on ending brutality of security forces and insecurity worsened by a corruption ridden administration. Good students of history will tell this government that such violent suppression which it plans against innocent peaceful citizens has never worked and will not work. It will only backfire.

“The opposition hereby warns the ruling APC,their armed groups and security forces to respect the constitutional rights of the patriotic young Nigerians to protest and not hide under the cover of Covid-19 regulations which government officials have not obeyed themselves as a reason to ban protests.

“Handlers of the President are hereby advised to continue telling the President until he hears that addressing the issues is the only way out and not this plot to deploy primitive force and avoidable loss of lives”.