The Transitional Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Council Area of Anambra State, Chinedu Ononiba, has commended protesters in different parts of the country for their peaceful conduct in their agitation.

Ononiba during an interview also expressed happiness that in most parts of the country security agents handled the protesters professionally.

He said even in the process of expressing their fundamental human right it was worthy of note that protesters showed wisdom and understanding by not engaging in the destruction of property.

“I commend the people for recognising their right to protest and need to exercise that right in a manner that respects the rule of law and the rights of others,’’ Mr Ononiba said.

Mr Ononiba said that the right to peaceful assembly was one of the pillars of democracy and enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

He said by remaining peaceful, the protesters had averted a repeat of the #EndSARS which resulted in avoidable deaths.

Acknowledging that there were economic challenges, Mr Ononiba said wisdom was important in coming out of the challenge.

He said, “Although there is an economic meltdown in the country, the application of good reasoning would yield more results than confrontation with the authorities. I commend the residents of the council areas namely: Nimo,Enugwu-Ukwu, Nawfia, Abba,Enugwu-Agidi and Abagana for conducting themselves properly during the protest.’’

In a related interview, a trader at a local market, Grace Anagor, said many people in the area did not take part in the protest because they feared it could be destructive.

“We engaged in indoor protest to send our message of hardship and bad governance to the President. I look forward to seeing if the President will make the necessary changes to ease the hardship the people are passing through,’’ she said.

A community leader and businessman, Christian Beluchukwu, also commended most people of the area for staying indoors.

He said that the ‘indoor mode of protest’ sent a stronger signal to the government than the street protest.

The organisers of the national protest said it would last between August 1 and August 10.

(NAN)