By Tricia Onwaeze
As reactions continue to trail the killing of a second-year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Yakubu over alleged blasphemy, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has insisted that its nationwide protest would hold as scheduled.
It would be recalled that the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai had banned religious protests. His Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule had also appealed to CAN to cancel the proposed nationwide protest slated for Sunday.
However, the religious body appears to be uninterested in making a u-turn on the directive. Speaking with The PUNCH, Rev. Bayo Oladeji, spokesman for the CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said the protest would hold on Sunday, though it would take place in front of CAN secretariats in various states without a procession.
“In cities where there are no CAN secretariats, we will use big churches to stage protests. We know too well that if we take to the streets, they will use thugs to hijack it. So, we will gather in front of our churches. We are not going to take to the streets,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the police was yet to be informed by CAN over the planned protest.
Noting that the body has a constitutional right to protest, Adejobi added that “it must be done in such a manner that is calm and mature so that it doesn’t worsen issues.”
The Plateau State Government however, said it would not welcome any form of protest in the state.
