As the planned nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance begins August 1, 2024, the Not Too Young To Perform (NTYTP), a leading advocacy group for younger leaders in Nigeria, has urged citizens to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid any form of violence or arson attacks.

In a statement jointly signed by the group’s President/Executive Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema, and its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Mikail Audu, the NTYTP reminded protesters that the primary objective of the exercise is to express displeasure over certain government policies and demand positive change.

The group appealed to all protesters to ensure that no government or private properties are touched, no matter the level of provocation. “We must demonstrate maturity and responsibility, even in the face of adversity,” the statement read.

Furthermore, the NTYTP called on all security agencies to provide adequate protection for the protesters and deal decisively with hired thugs wanting to disrupt the protest. “It is the responsibility of the security agencies to ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to express their grievances,” the statement added.

The group said it believes that the #EndBadGovernance protest is a legitimate and necessary exercise in a democratic society like Nigeria. “We must, however, conduct ourselves in a manner that earns us respect and admiration from the international community,” the statement concluded.

The group reinstated that the #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which is scheduled to take place across the country, is merely an avenue for aggrieved citizens to express their displeasure over various government policies and demand positive change, not war.

The NTYTP warned thugs not to disrupt the anti-government protest, saying that “pro-government citizens also have the constitutional rights to hold rallies in favour of the current administration and none should interfere with the peaceful activities of each other to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.”