Rev. Yemi Davids, Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State chapter on Wednesday said it is not right for the federal government to tell Nigerians how to protest when they are faced with hardship and hunger.
Davids who was a guest on Arise Television’s programme ‘ The Morning Show’ also said he took active part in the #EndSARS protest in 2020 before it was hijacked.
According to the founding pastor of Global Impact Churches, people have different ways of responding to hardship and voicing out their protest. While some will remain silent, others may shout and take to the streets to register their displeasure.
“I was part of #EndSARS protest myself before it was hijacked. When people are hungry, I don’t think it is fair to also tell them how to respond to hunger. It’s like your child is hungry at home and the food is not really ready. You are now telling the child ‘ When you are crying, don’t cry loud ooo. Don’t let the neighbour hear oo’.”.
“You can’t be telling someone how he or she should protest in that sense. It’s an unconscious thing. Some people will be quiet and be looking at you while some people will shout ‘ Ebi n pa mi ooo’ ‘ I’m very hungry!’.
“So, I feel people should be allowed to express themselves. If you don’t listen to people, the reality is that they will protest”.
“And beyond protest, Insecurity. We have issues in churches where people steal a whole instruments, sound systems overnight. It’s the same thing we are all going through. Can you imagine coming to church on a Monday morning and what you used on Sunday has been cleared?”.
“When people are not listened to, they are bound to protest which can be expressed in various ways. I think that is the reality of things now”.
