Hardship Protest: "Genuine Grievances", Top Christian Body, CAN, Takes Official Stand

Hardship Protest: "Genuine Grievances", Top Christian Body, CAN, Takes Official Stand

  • Instead of taking to the streets for protests, CAN has called on Nigerians to explore other means to register their grievances over the current economic crisis in the country
  • CAN expressed worry that the protests may degenerate into violence and destruction of lives and property as witnessed recently in Kenya
  • The apex Christian body made its stance officially known in a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering metro and governance.

FCT, Abuja - The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday, July 26, acknowledged that people have the right to peacefully assembly.

CAN, meanwhile, urged those planning a protest to devise other means.

'Don’t protest': CAN to Nigerians
CAN asks Nigerians not to protest. Photo credit: @CCSImpact
Source: Twitter

'Reconsider your decision', CAN to protest agitators

According to Premium Times, CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said this in a statement.

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The apex Christian body called for calm and caution to avoid a total breakdown of law and order.

The Nigerian Tribune quoted Okoh as saying:

“The cries of the people underscore the severe difficulties faced daily as families struggle to afford basic necessities and sustain their livelihoods.
“As we navigate this period of crisis, it is imperative to uphold the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to peacefully protest and express their grievances."

Furthermore, the religious organisation asked prospective protesters to learn from history. Citing the EndSARS protest which ended in violence, CAN submitted that this experience has "shown us that mass demonstrations can quickly degenerate into chaos if not properly managed and coordinated."

Read more on planned nationwide protest

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Lagos protesters to receive free legal service

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, expressed his readiness to assemble a legal team in Lagos state to offer representation to 'End Bad Governance' protesters.

In a tweet on his verified X handle, Effiong allayed the fears of some prospective demonstrators.

Also, Effiong disclosed that he has asked the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that Nigerians taking part in the planned protest are protected by the country’s security agencies.

Source: Legit.ng

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Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.