New #EndSARS Protest Would Put More Hardship On Ordinary Nigerians - Yahaya Bello

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said that another round of protests in the country would lead put more "hardship on the ordinary Nigerian".

Bello said that any fresh protest in the country would be "premature" and "counterproductive".

He also noted that the country's current security situation would be worsened by any protest.

He said, “In the face of all this and as the first sitting governor who publicly upheld the rights of our youths to protest against police brutality, I cannot in all good conscience agree that the time is ripe for another round of #EndSARS protests.

“I deem another round of #EndSARS protests to be premature and counter-productive at this time. Apart from the higher likelihood of conflict with the police earlier canvassed, we must also admit that the security situation in the country is very precarious at the moment.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Nurse Found Dead After Marathon Sex With Lover In Lagos Hotel

“All patriots must therefore make conscious efforts not to degrade a parlous security situation further. Nationwide protests at this time will only overburden the load-bearing capabilities of our security architecture increasing the likelihood of total collapse. No matter the narrative, I doubt that out-of-control anarchy is an objective of the #EndSARS protests.”

COVID Effects

Bello pointed to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stating that it aligned with his earlier prediction that the pandemic would impoverish more populations globally.

He said, “To worsen matters, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) predicted 3 days ago that the pandemic could push the number of people living in extreme poverty to over 1 billion by 2030. Thank God they are owning up to my earlier prediction, warning and caution.

“Nigeria’s earning and foreign exchange situation is too fragile as we speak to resist sustained shocks.

“Another nationwide protest will worsen the multidimensional poverty indices all over our country and work greater hardship on the ordinary Nigerians we claim to be advocating for.”