The leadership vacuum in the End SARS campaign allowed hoodlums to hijack the peaceful protests.
This is the position of Salihu Lukman, Director General, Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
PGF is a body of all Governors elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
In a statement on Sunday, Lukman said the disadvantage of protests with undercover or virtual leadership is that potential for leadership recruitment is blocked.
He listed another downside as stalled negotiation with authorities.
“Thirdly, capacity of the organizers to control the protest and ensure that desired outcomes were achieved is also weakened”, NAN quoted him as saying.
“All these contributed to making the protest vulnerable, which resulted in the sad hijack by criminal elements and the widespread destruction and looting.”
The PGF DG said citizens and leaders must seek common grounds to transform all structures into active platforms for interest negotiations.
Lukman added that the fear of citizens’ engagement and negotiations had emboldened political opponents “whose credentials are anything but attractive”.
He stressed that Nigeria, as an emerging democracy, must prioritize political compromises through debate and negotiations.
