By Oluwakemi Ishola
As youths protest against the operations of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) gathers daily momentum across the Country, the 2019 Governorship Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Oyo State, Akogun Sharafadeen Alli, on Saturday, advised the federal government to listen to the plight of Nigerians and do the needful.
He said though, the federal government may have reasons for not scrapping the SARS, but with the ongoing protests, it is obvious Nigerians are not comfortable with its existence and operations.
The former Secretary to Oyo State government in a signed statement advised the federal government to engage the protesting youths on matters concerning their well being, before it degenerate to anarchy.
According to him, Street protest is one of the ways people demostrate their grievances to government all over the world, therefore something needful should be done by the federal government.
Alli noted that experience over the years have shown that protests could be disastrous if not properly addressed and managed.
Citing Algeria where President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted following months of youth-led Street demonstrations, President Omar al-Bashir was also deposed by mass youth demonstrations in Sudan. Alli further said Lebanon, Hong Kong, Haiti, and Iraq also suffered similar street demonstrations.
He therefore advised the federal government to protect the Nigeria’s nascent democracy saying: “the worse of democracy is better than the best of military rule.”
