#EndSARS: Pastor Tunde Bakare Warns FG Not To Provoke Another Protest

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has warned the Federal Government to watch how its reacts to the fallout of the recent EndSARS protest in order not to provoke another uprising by youths.

The pastor said the freezing of bank accounts, arrests and general clampdown on #EndSARS promoters might trigger further protests.

He said this while delivering his sermon during the church’s special service on Sunday.

The cleric urged the Federal Government to reverse some of its actions against #EndSARS protesters in the country in order to rebuild the trust of the citizens in the government.

He said, “This season of our national life requires deep humility, sobriety, and deliberate thinking through, both by the government and the governed, to ensure that our plans, policies, and actions are weighed before they are implemented to avert the re-occurrence of our most recent crisis.

“Some of the actions recently taken by the government on the heels of the #EndSARS protests may need to be reversed sooner rather than later in our collective best interest so that they do not trigger further protests.

“Among such policy actions is the freezing of the accounts of young Nigerians who reportedly sponsored the protests. While I admit that, under our extant laws, banks may freeze an account upon an ex parte order granted to a law enforcement agency by a court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of an investigation, these provisions of our Law should not be used to intimidate Nigerian youths simply because they engaged in and promoted protests against the inactions of government.

“Targeting and arresting citizens on trumped-up charges, deploying court probes as a tool of intimidation, and generally eroding our fragile peace, are deeply worrisome signs of regression.

“To extend the olive branch to the youth in one breath, and to deprive the youth of the right to freedom of movement and property as enshrined in our constitution in another breath, will send confusing signals and cast doubts in their minds regarding the sincerity of the govt.

“The immediate reversal of these actions, therefore, will calm raw nerves and fast-track peace in our land. And if there are serious or fundamental security breaches that necessitated the freezing of bank accounts and the confiscation of a passport, these should be made known.

“In the absence of any security breaches, citizens’ rights should never be trampled upon.”

He warned that government must avoid taking steps which could provoke another rounds of unrest, saying, Nigeria could not afford to be taken through such path again.