By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Chairman, Warri South Council Area of Delta State, Dr. Michael Tidi, on Monday appealed to youths protesting against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, not to take laws into their hands.
Tidi, who spoke to our correspondent in Warri while reacting to the endSARS protest going on across the country, also appealed to the youths to end the protest amd allow government address their demands.
While commending the youths for thier resolve to ensure that the right things were done, Tidi however frown at some of some of the protesters who have hijacked the protest and are taking laws into their hands.
He reminded the youths that Nigeria is not a lawless country and as such they should do things according to the dictate of the law, stressing that the government of the day will not sit by while it’s citizens are been maimed and their property destroyed by rampaging youths.
He advised the youths in the country to use their voting powers to vote out bad leaders in the next general election, noting that if they come out to vote the way they are coming out to protest now, the country will better.
He said, “t’s within their rights as citizens of the country to protest, but it’s expected that they should do this in a civil manner without going overboard.
“Last week, some of the protesters, led by Freedom Ashipoyi, also known ‘Mr. Jollof, and a Warri born musician, Eriga, and NADESTU, came to the council to protest. I told them then to go about their protest in a peaceful manner. And from what they displayed that day, it shows that they were well organized. This is what we want.
“They should also understand that while they are protesting, they should give the government some window to respond to their demands because some of the things they are asking for involved legislation.
“They should go back to the negotiation table and dialogue with the government. They should appoint leaders within themselves, because I heard they do not have leaders. They should give government the benefits of doubts and allow them address some of their grievances.
“They cannot take laws into their hands. Children are going to school, market women cannot go to the market, people are stuck in traffic and all of that. We cannot continue like this.
“Remember that I am a youth too and I saw this thing coming long time ago. The youths should align themselves with a political party that has a good manifesto and use their large numbers to effect the change they are clamoring for.
