A former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, has urged the organizers of the upcoming nationwide protest to reconsider their plans and engage in dialogue with the Federal Government.
In an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Okiro acknowledged that while Nigerians have a constitutional right to protest against poor governance, he believes that constructive dialogue is a more effective approach to addressing grievances.
He noted that a nationwide protest, scheduled from August 1 to 10, is aimed at demanding improved leadership and relief from the high cost of living.
Despite recognizing the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, Okiro emphasized that the path to rebuilding is complex and requires time.
He advised that rather than resorting to protests, citizens should allow the government some time to implement measures that could alleviate economic struggles. He encouraged the government to focus on developing policies that address the needs of the populace.
“The situation we are in now did not come overnight; it came over a period of time. Can we rebuild in one year what has been destroyed over time?
“The problem with protest is that, no matter how the organisers will go about it, there is bound to be loss of lives, destruction of properties, and hardship.
“My advice to Nigerians, as much as they have the right to protest, is that they should allow the government some time to ameliorate the hardship.
“What we ought to do is to allow the government put structures in place to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Government should come up with policies that will help develop the country,” he said.
As a former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Okiro expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to drive change if given sufficient time.
He stressed that the current administration inherited significant challenges and is working to resolve them.
“There is a saying that nothing good comes easy. The current government inherited some challenges and needed to take some harsh decisions to solve them.
“Let’s give the government some time to ease this suffering that Nigerians are going through. The protest, if started, may end in violence; it may be hijacked by hoodlums.
“Rather than lead to any positive outcome, the protest may aggravate the living conditions of the people,” he added.
Okiro also critiqued the reliance on palliative measures, suggesting that long-term solutions lie in investing in the productive sector to create jobs and generate foreign exchange.
He advocated for support of local agriculture, such as rice farming, to reduce dependency on imports and strengthen the economy.
He concluded by urging the government to focus on enhancing domestic production rather than importing essential goods, which could further strain the nation’s economy.
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