By Abubakar Yunusa
The Nigerian Police Force has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to exhibit greater patriotism, emphasizing the need to unite in addressing national challenges.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Prince Muyiwa Adejobi, made this appeal on Friday during the unveiling of the report “Beyond the Protests: Towards Governance Reforms After #EndBadGovernance” by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in Abuja.
Adejobi, represented by Deputy Force PRO Victor Isuku, stressed the importance of maintaining a sense of national loyalty in advocacy efforts.
“It is only one Nigeria that we have,” Adejobi said.
“Playing to external or international influences will not help us. Civil society organizations must prioritize conflict-sensitive communication and refrain from actions that may escalate tensions. They should be seen as partners in moving the country forward.”
He urged CSOs to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in addressing the country’s challenges, emphasizing that creating solutions rather than additional problems should be their focus.
Speaking at the event, KDI Executive Director Bukola Idowu highlighted the organic nature of protests, describing them as a direct response to government policies or decisions that leave citizens feeling aggrieved.
“Protests are one way people express themselves,” Idowu stated. “While they can bring about change, not all protests lead to violence.
” Our report documents these events to understand their impacts and explore ways to advance the demands raised during protests beyond street demonstrations.”
Idowu added that the evolution of protests, driven by social media, has changed the dynamics of mobilization and advocacy.
“We need to create synergy between online and offline efforts to drive meaningful social change,” he said, noting that upcoming youth conferences would further explore this shift.
Professor Adetunji Ogunyemi, a professor of political and economic history, emphasized the government’s role in ensuring that peaceful protests are not hijacked by hoodlums.
“Most violent protests are instigated by hoodlums,” Ogunyemi explained.
“The government has a duty to prevent violence and provide police monitoring to ensure peaceful demonstrations.”
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