A Sudanese cleric, Ambassador Al-Mustapha Bala Assudany, in a recent sermon delivered at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, cautioned Nigerian youths against participating in the planned nationwide protests scheduled for August 1 to August 10.

His warning stems from concerns about the potential consequences of such demonstrations, particularly in light of the economic hardships currently faced by many Nigerians due to rising inflation and other socio-economic challenges.

Assudany shared his experiences as a Sudanese citizen, reflecting on how similar protests in Sudan escalated into civil war. He emphasized that while initial protests may begin with noble intentions—such as addressing economic grievances—they can be infiltrated by opposition groups and foreign entities with ulterior motives. This infiltration can lead to chaos and violence, ultimately resulting in significant destruction and loss of life.

He pointed out that many countries, including Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan itself, have experienced devastating outcomes following protests that started as peaceful demonstrations. In Sudan specifically, he noted that approximately two-thirds of the population has been displaced due to ongoing conflict triggered by protests that spiraled out of control.

Ambassador Assudany said presently 2 out of the 3 percent of Sudan’s population have abandoned their houses and fled the city center, while some fled to other countries due to war.

“Before they started talking about the planned protest in Nigeria, it happened in some Muslim countries like Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, and Sudan. I’m a Sudanese citizen and what happened in Sudan was the same thing that happened in other Muslim countries.”

“When I heard about the planned protest in Nigeria, I felt as a Muslim I should share the experience of what I saw in Sudan and what happened in other Muslim countries. Economic hardship was responsible for all the protests witnessed in those countries. That was what led people to protest in Sudan, thinking a solution would come through protest.

“Those that started were Sudanese citizens in an attempt to draw the attention of the government to end their hardship. But the opposition groups that were against the government penetrated them because every government has opposition. This was what led to the chaos in the country.

“Some foreign countries also took advantage of the protest and came into the country. They were the ones sponsoring these youths and supporting them. This led to regime change in the country but despite that there was no peace in the country.

“Many people thought after the regime changed there would be peace in the country but it turned out to cause more chaos across the country. As we speak, Khartoum, which is the capital of Sudan, has been completely destroyed and the residents fled.

“The war spread to other parts of the country. There was crisis everywhere, people being killed in villages, women raped, kidnapped, and sold as slaves in foreign lands. This is why I’m calling on Nigerians, especially the youth, not to allow themselves to be used by the enemies of the country to destroy their country. This is because nothing good will come out of the protest but destruction.

“This is because Nigeria has bigger challenges compared to us in Sudan because in Sudan majority of the citizens are Muslims and yet are killing themselves, what about Nigeria with tribal, religious, and ethnic differences? What do you think will happen if after the regime change? Do you think there will be somebody that can caution the youths against future protest?”

Call for caution
The cleric urged Nigerian youths to reflect on these historical precedents before proceeding with their plans for protest. He warned that Nigeria’s unique ethnic and religious diversity could exacerbate tensions if protests were to escalate into violence. Assudany stressed that enemies of Nigeria might exploit these demonstrations to further destabilize the country.

He concluded his sermon by praying for peace and urging both leaders and citizens to work together towards resolving the economic issues without resorting to actions that could lead to bloodshed or civil unrest.

Government response
In response to the planned protests, various stakeholders—including government officials, traditional rulers, and religious leaders—have echoed similar sentiments as Ambassador Assudany. They have called for restraint among youths and encouraged dialogue rather than confrontation. President Bola Tinubu also weighed in on the situation by stating that those instigating protests do not genuinely care for Nigeria’s welfare.

The government has taken steps to address public grievances by offering job opportunities within state-owned enterprises and reviving youth investment funds aimed at alleviating some of the economic pressures faced by young Nigerians.