National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Ambassador Al-Mustapha Bala Assudany, a Sudanese cleric, has cautioned Nigerian youths against the planned nationwide protests scheduled from August 1 to August 10, arguing that such actions will not produce any positive outcomes.
As inflation and economic hardship intensify, some Nigerians have organised these protests.
Despite appeals from the government, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to reconsider, the youths remain resolute.
In a pre-sermon address at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, Assudany warned the youths against allowing adversaries of the country to exploit their frustrations to destabilise Nigeria.
Drawing from his experience as a Sudanese citizen, he recounted how protests in Sudan escalated into a civil war.
Assudany cautioned that external influences and opposition groups often infiltrate peaceful protests, leading to chaos and bloodshed.
He cited Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan as examples where peaceful protests devolved into destructive conflicts.
He highlighted the dire consequences of the Sudanese protests, noting that a significant portion of the population has been displaced and forced to flee the country.
Assudany emphasised that foreign entities exploiting economic grievances were partly responsible for the regime change and ensuing violence in Sudan.
He urged Nigerians to avoid a similar fate by learning from Sudan’s experience.
Assudany called on the youth to resist manipulation by those seeking to destabilise Nigeria and prayed for peace and harmony in the country, urging the leadership to address the economic challenges.
“The situation in Sudan serves as a stark warning,” Assudany said.
“Nigerian youths must not allow themselves to be used by the enemies of the country, as nothing good will come from such protests, only destruction.”
He also stressed the importance of unity, given Nigeria’s diverse religious, tribal, and ethnic makeup, warning that regime change through protests could lead to even greater chaos.
Assudany thereafter prayed for Nigeria’s leadership to take decisive steps to alleviate economic hardship and restore stability.
