
The National Christian Elders Forum held an Emergency Meeting on Thursday 22nd
October, 2020 following the attacks and destructions that climaxed the ENDSARS
protests. NCEF waited for the President of Nigeria to deliver his speech to the country
before commencing with the meeting.
REPORT OF THE MEETING
National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) wishes to express great sorrow at the recent
events in the country which commenced with nationwide protests against the excesses of
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and climaxed in the death of some of the
unarmed protesters, security personnel, and mindless destruction of properties. All the
lives lost are Nigerian and there was no need for any of them to have died. There is no
justification for anyone seeking to tribalize or sectionalize the protests and looting that
followed it. The protests are result of pent up fury and frustration against the injustice,
imbalance, and dysfunctional system that Nigeria is operating in form of Government.
This is not the first time that we are witnessing a protest of this nature. In 2012, Nigerians
protested in like manner at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Lagos against the
drastic increase in the pump price of fuel. The protests ended peacefully because the
President Goodluck Jonathan Administration handled the situation appropriately. The
current situation was mishandled by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari
because the Army was released against unarmed protesters in Nigeria. Whoever
authorized the deployment of troops to face the protesting youths should be court-
marshalled for murder.
It is curious that a Government that claimed it negotiated with terrorists and integrated
them into the military could not negotiate with unarmed protesters but chose to shoot
them. The double standard that is characteristic of the Buhari Administration is
condemnable.
As the country mourns the death of the protesters, the security personnel, as well as other
people who died as collateral damages, NCEF appeals to the youths to suspend any
further public protest. The point has been made that though Nigerians are tolerant and
patient, they are not docile. Any government that seeks to take Nigerians for granted does
so at its own peril. NCEF appeals that the youths should remain calm and give room for
credible negotiation to commence concerning the country. One point is clear, the
Amalgamation contracted by Frederick Lugard in 1914 has run its course and expired.
It is time to re-negotiate Nigeria.
RESOLUTIONS
After deliberating on the unfortunate killings of protesters by the Army and security
personnel by irate crowds in other parts of the country, the National Christian Elders
Forum passed the following resolutions:
1. That the time is ripe for Nigeria to be re-negotiated. The political imbalance in the
country has produced nothing but sorrow, poverty, and death for Nigerians.
