The Coalition of Ulama and Islamic Organisations in Kano State has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and state governments to urgently introduce emergency youth skills training, empowerment and support programmes to check street protests in the country.
The Convener of the Coalition, Dr Saidu Dukawa, made the call in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano Saturday.
Dr Dukawa said such programmes would enable the youths to become self reliant and take their minds off street protests.
According to him, the Coalition decried street protests, unrests and anarchy and called for prayers for peace to prevail in the country.
He said the Coalition held a meeting and reviewed the state of the nation with particular reference to the prevailing hardships largely caused by hyper inflation in the country.
During the meeting, he said, the Islamic scholars noted the unstable and excessive rise in costs of basic foodstuff and excruciating poverty,and urged Governments to address the situation.
“The apparent excuse of those canvassing the street protests is the unprecedented inflation, poverty and hunger in the land that have become life threatening since the removal of subsidy on fuel, and the floating of the national currency that has given Governments at all levels a huge pool of local currency, the Naira, unfortunately only used for short term palliatives,” the Coalition observed.
It said the calls for mass protests by some faceless groups lacked clear roadmap and had caused anxiety among the populace, such that many religious leaders and scholars have had to issue rulings and Fatwas in their sermons and lectures disseminated on both social and conventional media.
The Coalition then noted what it termed as “the unprecedented deterioration of societal norms and the near total lack of discipline among families” which it said, is largely caused by the prevailing abject poverty that denies parents the control needed for guiding and disciplining their wards.
It said the situation is the main cause of rising criminal activities including hitherto unknown violent crimes in the country.
The Coalition called on Leaders of Governments at all levels to fear Allah, reminding them of the Day of Judgement when they would account for their stewardship on earth.
