Tobias Sylvester
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has expressed regrets that the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked by hooliganism, ethno-religious bigots and even political marauders pushing for regime change.
This was contained in a communique signed by the chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, issued at the end of their emergency meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
The governors wondered why the #EndSARS protests persisted despite the “magnanimity exhibited” by the federal and state governments, and urged Nigerians to resist “enemies of the nation” by supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.
The forum also called on the Federal Government to constitute a judicial commission of enquiry to probe all level of destruction and killings during the #EndSARS protest.
“Concerned by these development, the Northern States Governors Forum met and deliberated on the matter,” the communique reads.
“Forum commiserates with those who lost their lives, the wounded and those whose properties where destroyed.
“Forum strongly sues for unity and peaceful co-existence of all citizens and groups of people in Nigeria and urge all Nigerians to see themselves as equal citizens of the country as the unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised.
“The forum regrets the diabolical influencers in form of hooliganism, ethno-religious bigots and even political marauders who are bent on pulling the nation down its knees and pushing for regime change.
“The forum called on all Nigerians to resist these enemies of the nation by supporting Mr. President, the federal government and democracy at large.
“Forum appeal to all citizens to restraint themselves from unwarranted disposition of sentiments, harassment and intimidation of other citizens resident in their home states. Forum notes that all these are antics of the enemies of the country who are violently pushing for regime change outside the ballot box.
“Forum also notes the heavy presence of external influencers both locally and internationally and called on all citizens particularly community leaders and youth groups to be very vigilant and report the presence of such people to security agencies. The forum called for comprehensive and robust reforms in the police force.
“The Forum advocates for the Constitution of Judicial Commission of enquiry to investigate all levels of destruction and killings during the Endsars protest.”
They also called “for greater synergy between the state and the federal government in strengthening the unity, oneness and overall development of the country.”
The communique said the NSGF “is in synergy with other governors in the South-West, South-South and South-East to address this challenges of nationhood headlong.”
Meanwile, the Presidency has blamed religious organizations and the media for promoting hate messages and division during the #EndSARS protest.
