The Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and Plateau State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Professor Patrick Sunday Dakum, has called on planners of the #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria, to think deeply with caution in their decision of staging nationwide protests on 1st -10th August, 2024.

Dakum said the country is in the middle of colossal quagmire of inflation and the population is suffering without recourse to any political party, religion, region and ethnic inclination. He warned that the government must be proactive and pragmatic in addressing these challenges to enable the citizens enjoy the dividends of democracy.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Media Consultant, Shabul Mazadu, he said the protesters have the constitutional right to assemble and express their dismay over government’s policies through peaceful and orderly protests, saying that it is up to them to take into consideration their decision in attempting to have their problems solved to avoid dispensing more harm than good.

The former Commissioner of Health and Information in Plateau called on organisers of the protests to think about the peace and stability of the nation first which is the recipe for solving the hardship as crisis and unrest are only catalysts of deterioration instead of advancing lasting solutions. He posited that the current hardship, pains and disenchantment cannot guarantee peaceful protests, but violence and vandalism worse than the #EndSARS.

He suggested that protest organisers should list their pressing problems and propose solutions as to how they want the government to go about them through dialogue. “And if the government fails to abide by their agreement, they can mobilize to oust it at the polls in 2027.”

According to him, the country has about two years to go to the polls, and with massive enlightenment, the youth can bring a better peaceful change of government, instead of going through a process with potentialities of prolonging the suffering of the masses.

Dakum attested that there is no magic anyone can do to solve the current problems with the snap of a finger, saying it is a gradual thing that will take some time. “Therefore the protests cannot bring immediate end to stagflation. After the protests, the government will still be given time to address the problems.”

He lamented that Nigerians have been plunged into a dire situation which requires a lot of patience, hard work and long-suffering to overcome, pointing out that no fire brigade approach can instantaneously solve the problems.

According to him, “Only through de-escalation of the problems and careful planning that the country come out of the harsh situation. Will the costs of goods and services return to their prices before the advent of the current administration as soon as the protests are over?”

Dakum posited by reiterating his appeal to the organisers of the protests to think deeply over their choice of action for the interests of the country and put the protest on hold.