Protest: Champions of ethnic chauvinism must not undermine civil democracy—MNR warns

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Movement for National Reformation (MNR), stated that it will not permit the champions of ethnic chauvinism to extinguish civil democracy, no matter its imperfections.
It was recalled that during the nationwide demonstrations against hunger and hardship, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral. The demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
Hundreds of mostly underaged youths urged President Vladimir Putin of Russia to intervene in Nigeria.
“We are raising the Russian flag because we believe Tinubu is following the scripts of his imperial masters—the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United States of America,” a protester reportedly told TheCable.
Reacting to the development, a statement jointly signed by National Vice Chairman HRH Dr. Samuel Adai Onimisi and National Secretary Dr. Philip Ideawor urged the youths to embrace dialogue.
Reading the text at a press conference in Abuja yesterday,MRN convener,Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns said those who are converting the platform of the “end bad governance” protest to advocate for the dismemberment of Nigeria, or calling for a military coup and flying the flags of foreign countries, are existential threats to the sovereignty and national interests of Nigeria.
“Consequently, we in MNR wish to urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to thoroughly investigate such unpatriotic acts and bring the culprits to justice.
“We urge citizens to embrace dialogue and conversation, as initiated by the national broadcasts of President Tinubu, regarding the policies of the Federal Government aimed at revamping the economy and restoring sociopolitical balance in Nigeria.”
Jonathan added that while MNR recognizes that some of President Tinubu’s policies have not sufficiently addressed the challenges faced by Nigerians, it strongly condemns proponents of regime change outside of the ballot box.
“We are also concerned about the silence of Federal Government Ministers, especially the Ministers of Defence, Police, and Information, in addressing the protesters to complement the President’s broadcast.”“The issues range from rising inflation, unemployment, hunger, insecurity and the general economic with adverse consequences on the lives of the people, the socio-economic and security of the nation.
“Most of these realities have more grave consequences on the average Nigerian, particularly the youth and women and are capable of compounding the already fragile security of the nation.”