By Mumini Abdulkareem
The Chief Imam of Agaka Central Mosque, Asa Dam, Ilorin, Sheikh Yusuf Murtala (Pakata) penultimate Friday in Ilorin berated the Federal Government for its slow response to the #EndSARS protest across the country even as he equally condemned the hoodlums who looted and vandalised private and government properties in the guise of the demonstration.
Imam Murtala spoke during his Friday sermon (Khutbah) calling on the authorities to demonstrate grasp and deep understanding of the reason for the protest with a resolve and commitment to provide good leadership and try to resolve the problem through engagement that is in line with best global practices.
There have been conflicting reports about the role of the army in the demonstration that has reportedly left hundreds of civilians and police officers dead across the country after the initial peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums.
But according to the cleric, the escalation and degeneration of the issue to maiming, killing and looting among other acts of brigandage was helped by the slow attitude of the federal government to the issue.
He said while the government of President Muhammadu Buhari might have assumed a reputation of slow response to issues of major and important national interest, the #EndSARS protest should have been approached differently, the failure of which the country is now grappling with the devastating consequences.
The protest, he further noted, coincided with a time that prices of food have ballooned out of the reach of the masses in an astronomical level that has never been witnessed in the country before.
He therefore called for prayers across the country and for the citizens to seek for forgiveness from Almighty Allah to bring the situation in the country under control.
He said “The protests across the country are beyond the call for an end to SARS. The youths are protesting against the exorbitant high food prices, hike in electricity and petrol tariffs among others. I enquire for the prices of a bag of rice, Elubo and Semovita and was told N40,000, N120,000 and N4,000 respectively. A bag of rice that used to be sold for around N7,000, Elubo, N40,000 and others. The youth are protesting against the deception in governance. While some are protesting genuinely, others are in it because of their private pocket and interest.
“It is very unfortunate that anytime such burning issue is plaguing the country, the Federal Government response is always slow and such action is not preferable in cases like the #EndSARS protest. Slow response to the issue like this is always catastrophic. It was after many world leaders and countries reacted that President Buhari deemed it fit to speak and even at that it would have been better to maintain his silence because his speech was nothing to write home about. He failed to condemn the shooting of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate”.
“The federal government approach was most unfortunate. With the present trend, our security situation is on the precipice. Same with the approach of traditional leaders, legislators and past leaders except former President Obasanjo. The youth must not under the guise of protest continue to destroy our common heritage, he noted.
