A former Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mike Okiro, has appealed to Nigerians to discard the idea of protest, and give the Federal Government more time to build the nation, News About Nigeria reports.
He made this call while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He noted that Nigerians have the right to protest against bad governance and leadership, but he urged the organisers of the planned nationwide protest to shelve their plan and engage in dialogue with the Federal Government.
Recall that a nationwide peaceful protest demanding effective leadership and a reduced cost of living, among others has been slated to begin on the 1st of August till the 10th.
Acknowledging that Nigerians are passing through some challenges, Okiro maintained that it is easier to destroy but difficult to rebuild.
“The situation we are in now did not come overnight; it came over a period of time. Can we rebuild in one year what has been destroyed over time?
“The problem with protest is that, no matter how the organisers will go about it, there is bound to be loss of lives, destruction of properties, and hardship.
“My advice to Nigerians, as much as they have the right to protest, is that they should allow the government some time to ameliorate the hardship.
“What we ought to do is to allow the government put structures in place to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Government should come up with policies that will help develop the country,” he stated.
He further stated that nothing good comes easy, adding that the current government inherited some challenges and needed to take some harsh decisions to solve them.
