Politics
ALHAJI Ibrahim Salihu, a writer and activist, has stressed the need for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country to desist from working to promote the interest of their foreign donors.
Salihu said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja while recalling the role played by foreign organisations during the 2020 EndSARS protest in some parts of the country.
He described the protest as unfortunate, saying it left behind a trail of burnt buildings and vehicles, looted business premises and some slayed police personnel.
He explained that there was a thin line between confrontational advocacy for better governance and anarchy.
Salihu said it was unfortunate that NGOs in Nigeria operated under the impression that opposing and challenging every government policy was activism.
He noted that while the 2020 EndSARS protest was supported and encouraged by all mainstream NGOs in the country, its momentum was sustained by donations in cash and crypto currencies from abroad.
This, he said, was in addition to some American franchise and individuals who donated food for the EndSARS protesters, but didn’t donate to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Hill’s protesters in the United States.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Capitol Hill protest was embarked on by supporters of the then U.S. President Donald Trump, after his defeat in 2020 presidential election.
A mob of Trump’s supporters attacked the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. as they sought to keep him in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from meeting.
Their intension was to thwart the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed on a Radio call in programme said many NGOs operating in Nigeria are working against the country’s interest.
“The minister specifically mentioned SERAP which sued the Federal Government for suspending Twitter in Nigeria,” Salihu recalled.
He added that in every case filed by some NGOs, they received subventions from their donors and sponsors, a development he said should be of concern to Nigerians.
“Within the first 30 days of 2021 SERAP have filled 21 law suits against President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government,” Salihu said, wondering if it was advocating for Nigeria or foreign interest.
According to Salihu, there are more NGOs than functional companies in the North Eastern Nigeria especially.
“Infact there are more Non Profit organisations than industries in Nigeria.
“Being a recipient of humongous grants from foreign donors, most Nigerian NGOs’ operation is dictated by the donors,” he said.
He stressed that this narrative must stop for the country to move forward (NAN)
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Tags: Alhaji Ibrahim Salihu
