Interview: Be Orderly So The Protest Is Not Hijacked By Troublemakers, Unscrupulous Politicians, Filmmaker Tells Protester

Today the 1st of August, 2024, protest began across Nigeria aiming at ending bad Governance and hunger in the country. Several Nigerians have gathered at different states of the nation to do a peaceful protest. In this exclusive interview with Gospel Film News, veteran filmmaker and a leader in Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Kwara chapter, Reverend Yemi Adepoju has cautioned protesters to be orderly so the protest won’t be hijacked. He also appealed to Nigerians to be patient. Excerpt:

1. What’s your take on the ongoing protest across the country?

“A baby that needs something from the mother has the right to cry to receive the mother’s attention, especially when the mother had earlier refused to pay attention to the baby’s needs. So, my take is that those protesting have the right to do this. This view is also in line with CAN’s statement on the protest. Sadly, protest is the main language the government understands.

2. What’s your counsel to the protesters?

My appeal to the protesters is to conduct themselves in an orderly manner so that the protest is not hijacked by troublemakers and unscrupulous politicians who might want to manipulate the protest to their advantage. This is not the time for violence and destruction because some states are yet to fully recover from the violent destruction of the Endsars protests.

3. What’s your counsel to the government?
The government should handle the protest the way President Jonathan handled the 2012 Fuel Increase protest, with maturity, and not the way the Endsars protest was managed.

4. What’s your counsel to Nigerians at large?
I appeal to all Nigerians for more patience to allow the government to make things right. We also have a role to play in helping the government by doing the right thing as citizens. While the people do their part, the government should demonstrate through their governance that the economy is being managed well towards the path of recovery. Building a Vice President’s residence with billions of Naira within one year of taking over the government, purchasing 500 SUV cars for the legislature, and telling the populace to be patient for economic recovery is not acceptable.”