He cautions that if not handled with maturity, the International community will hold it against our leaders and our history.
While applauding the role the military plays in defending our national sovereignty and protecting individual lives and property, the Methodist Bishop said “We all acknowledge the sacrifices of our soldiers and men in the force, in leaving the safety of their homes and the warmth of family to defend the country and her citizenry against acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other threats to our safety and peace, but do not by your overt actions, orders or prodding let what started out as peaceful become messy because you wield the guns and wear the uniforms!”
The Global Peace Award Winner 2013, who stated this on Wednesday while speaking on the alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate on Tuesday, described the incident as worrisome, stressing that what the country needs right now is not a show of “Strong man grandstanding” but a sincere and open dialogue of minds; an understanding of the pain of the young man and woman on the streets, and open analysis of the challenging situations that has brought us to this slippery road.
According to Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, the Nigerian Military must not join the Nigerian Police Force in handling civil matters while the country faces bigger threats to our collective nationhood, adding that terrorists still hold sway in the North-East geopolitical zone of the country, Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, kidnappers roam free.
He pointed out that there is a need to sustain the ongoing onslaught of wiping out remnants of Boko Haram that have threatened Nigerians for years rather than this demystification of the army on our peaceful streets and communities.
While maintaining his earlier call for security agencies to protect the #ENDSARS protesters, he adds that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Government as amended, explicitly defines the duties of security agencies in the country in event of security breaches, stressing that they should not juxtapose their duties with that of the Nigerian Police Force.
He however expressed hope that the Nigerian Police Force will not be overwhelmed by the current situation in the country, as the Co-Chair Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, also stressed the need for the Nigerian Police to exhibit professionalism in handling the situation, frowning at the fundamental Human Rights breaches against protesters, as the disturbing pictures trending on the internet suggest.
Bishop. Dr. Onuoha also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to address the concerns of the protesters, noting that the protest is already having a downturn effect on the poor masses of the country especially with the curfew announced by some state Governors, reminding him that it has not been long Nigerians experienced total lockdown as a result of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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