By Becky Adi
A non governmental organization, WAANSA Nigeria has called on Soyinka, Bakare and others aspiring to be President of Nigeria to join them to lead protest against gun violence in the country.
The group made the call during the Civil Military cooperation conference held at Rotunda hall, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja On 23rd May, 2022.
Rising from a very important conference on strategies to compliment security efforts in curbing conflict in Nigeria as election draws closer, the National Executives of the group call on Prof. Wole Soyinka ,Tunde Bakare Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other presidential aspirants to join them in solidarity, on the Global week of action against gun violence.
The aim of the project according to a press release signed by Martin Igwe the
Director Media and Advocacy and
National Cordintor Civil Society Coalition for Peace and Security is to mobilize a save Nigeria rally all over the country starting from Borno state during this years Global week of action against gun violence which starts between 1st june -8th june 2022.
The statement recalled how Nigerians took to the streets during the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan protesting subsidy removal and the looting of Trillions of Nigerian hard earned resources by Oil markerts.
“While pastor Bakare Queried how trillions were spent on subsidy, Prof Wole Soyinka studied the financial fiqures and confirmed that Nigerians are not only treated like second class citizens but are excessivly dehumanised” it recalled.
It noted that today Gun related violence is over whelming some states in Nigeria, of which the cost can not be quantified as a result of the negative economic implications on citizens.
The disturbing trend the statement said necessitated the call for save Nigerian group to mobilize to storm Borno , Kaduna and Anabara state to halt the killings
and continue the protest against gun violence to draw the attention of government and the international community to the problem of gun violence in the country.
It noted that Civil Millitry relationship must not be an academic exercise , “civil societies who led the save Nigeria rally must know that the situation in the country demand something like their “occupy Nigeria” furthermore, they will be doing justice to the theme of this year’s global week against gun violence campaign which centers on uniting efforts against gun control .
Doing this, the statement noted will help the security agencies who sacrifice their lives daily due to gun related violence sometimes covertly ochestrated by political gladiator.
“Presidential aspirants should use global week of action to demostrate their willingness to free Nigeria from the menance of gun violence” the statement added
