The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has urged Nigerians not to embark on the nationwide protest slated for August 1 to 10, 2024, but to embrace dialogue with the federal government.
Speaking at a press conference, Wednesday, Adegbite said that, if Nigerians must embark on the nationwide protest, they should not riot or engage in the destruction of public properties or people’s businesses.
The Executive Secretary said that, inasmuch as it is the right of Nigerians to protest, they should not inconvenience others or stop other Nigerians from going to work.
The NCPC boss said that August is known as a month of grace, hence should not be dragged into disrepute by faceless elements, whose sole is to steal and destroy.
He added that due to circumstances beyond the control of the commission, Easter and May pilgrimage will be combined and will now run from September to February next year.
He said: “As Nigerians, we have the right to either protest or not protest. Even if you want to protest, you can’t tell others not to go to work. There is no protest that does not end in riot or destruction in Nigeria. The EndSARS protest is the closest example. It effected many things, especially Lagos. Properties were destroyed, including BRT buses. If the buses were not burnt, they would have been in use by now.
“Mr President is a good man. He doesn’t want to lose any child. If you meet Mr President one on one, you will know he’s a good man. Even if you offend him, he has forgiven you already. He has a listening earlier and will address the concerns of Nigerians, so protesting is not the way forward. A protest being championed by faceless people is ominous and can be hijacked just like during the EndSARS.
“What others laboured to build should not be destroyed. That is wickedness. NCPC stands for peace and as the Executive Secretary, I want to encourage us not to protest. We don’t want anyone to die tomorrow. We don’t want properties to be destroyed.”