Former presidential candidates in Nigeria have been urged not to encourage or promote violence in the country through the planned #End Bad Governance protest.
Former Presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Omoyele Sowore, have thrown their support behind the planned protest.
Presidential Candidates of Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFPCFRN), Tunde Anifowose-Kelani, made this call in a statement Tuesday in Abuja.
Also, another former presidential candidate and Executive Secretary of the council, Alhaji Gani Galadima, appealed for the cancellation of the planned protests, stressing the need for peace and progress in Nigeria.
In the statement, Anifowose-Kelani noted that ”We all past presidential candidates in Nigeria have signed peace accord in this country and we should always find peaceful resolution to issues of national importance but not to engage or join protest.
Anifowose-Kelani appealed that “no presidential candidate in Nigeria should join the protest”, insisting that “instead we should be fathers and mothers of the nation creating solutions and ameliorating the suffering of the masses endlessly.”
The politician cum businessman urged all former presidential candidates to reach out to the people and educate them on the evils of violence, adding that Nigeria “cannot afford another protest now “.
Anifowose-Kelani explained that: “This our own elite platform. No one would protest here but we can reach out to our community and constituents on the need to avoid the protest .
“Protest and destruction would only set the nation backward and give opportunity to looters and promoters of brigandage”.
Specifically, he called on Nigerians, especially youths, to shun any acts that can ignite violence in the country, saying it will do nobody any good.
He said: “protest and destruction of infrastructures would only set the country backward. Let us complain, but not destroy.”
The former presidential candidate, however , admonished the Nigerian government to continue with vigorous measures that will drastically bring the suffering of the masses down.
According to him, the government should ensure good governance, qualitative and affordable education, adequate and functional health care facilities, welfare packages, infrastructure, ease of doing business in Nigeria, and reduction of tax burdens on Nigerians .
“The exchange rate should come down with naira procurement of crude oil locally and prices of food should also come down”, he added.
