By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Human rights lawyer and lawyer to ‘Take It Back Movement’, one of the groups that organised the protests Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has called on youths to immediately suspend the ongoing nationwide protest.
Adegboruwa made the call in a statement released on Friday.
The protest had entered its second day on Friday. It began on Thursday, August 1.
Adegboruwa said: “Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, in order to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government.
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties.
“The organisers of the protests and their representatives should embrace dialogue with the government.”
The lawyer expressed regrets over some deaths and losses recorded during the protest, saying those were not the goals of the protests.
He expressed “sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters, praying to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.”