Revolution Now: Archbishop Martins Tells Buhari What To Do With Protesters

Few days after the arrest of the Presidential candidate of African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, by the operatives of Department State Service, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, has stated that things may get worse in Nigeria if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.

The Archbishop warned that Nigeria may employ self-help if their security can’t be guaranteed.

He stated this while reacting to the ‘Revolution Now’ protest, he charged the federal government to see the movement as a wake-up call to address the situations in the country.

Martins charged President Buhari to attend to the issues raised by the protesters rather than clamp down on protesters, NAN reports.

He stated this while reacting to the ongoing call for better lives for Nigerians, he urged the Buhari led administration to ensure the protection of lives and properties.

Martins stated that if the government see the complains has issues, it will enable it to redouble efforts towards fulfilling their constitutional role of securing lives and property of the people.

The archbishop expressed displeasure over the rising cases of insecurity across the country, particularly the kidnapping and killing of innocent Nigerians by armed bandits.

“Except urgent and concrete measures are taking to reassure Nigerians of the safety of their lives and property across the country, things may soon get out of hands.”

“People may be forced to resort to self-help if the government and security agencies continue to fail them.”

“The ongoing protests by some groups is a reflection of the growing decay in the land and should be a wake-up call for the president to be more creative and decisive in addressing various agitations bothering the minds of Nigerians.”

“Clamping down on the protesters will not make the problems to disappear. Rather, I urge him, as the father of the nation, to pay attention to the issues that bother the citizens.”

“The fears being expressed about the state of the nation are genuine and they deserve to be looked into urgently so as to save this nation from further distress.”

“President Buhari needs to address the nation on these issues and give people the much-needed reassurance and hope.”

“If this is not forthcoming, people may feel free to interpret events as they wish,” Martins said.

He added that there is a need for a speedy arraignment of protesters arrested during the movement in the court of law.

“The continuous detention of the protesters without trial may further paint the government as only paying lip service to the tenets of democracy.”

“The proper and real dividend of democracy include freedom of expression and assembly, including the freedom to protest,” he said.