NLC Strike: Shehu Sani cautions against violence, preaches preservation of democracy

One of Nigeria’s leading civil rights activists and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has cautioned against violence ahead of a planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC on Tuesday.

 

Sani said all issues could be resolved through a democratic process, noting that Nigerians must not resort to violence as a way of pressing home their demands.

 

In a statement he signed and sent on Monday in Abuja, the former lawmaker said Nigeria has achieved modest gains through democratic processes that should be preserved at all costs.

 

He said: “We should not lose hope and resort to violence. There are modest gains in our democratic process that need to be preserved and sustained.

“Protest and strikes are components of a democratic society, but not violence.”

 

Earlier, the Department of State Services, DSS claimed to have uncovered a plot by some politicians to cause violence across the country using economic issues as an excuse.

 

The Service claimed that students were being mobilized, alongside ethnic associations, to stage violent protests across the country.

In a statement by the Service Spokesperson, Mr Peter Afunanya, which was made available to newsmen on Monday, he said there was intelligence indicating that a protest was planned to rubbish the federal government and other security agencies.

 

He said those behind the plots have been identified by the Service and they are being monitored closely.

 

Afunanya said the public should see the statement as official information that certain elements are currently plotting to destabilize the country, citing sundry economic matters.

 

“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilizing unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action.

 

“Meanwhile, the Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy. ”