Cleric assures of Muslims’ support for anti-subsidy protest

Posted by admin Headlines, Oil Politics Sunday, January 8th, 2012

By Abdulwahab Abdulah
LAGOS— Following calls on Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the organised labour to shelve today’s strike, Conference of Islamic Organisations, CIO, has insisted that the strike should go ahead.

Mufti of the organisation, Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i also condemned the Nigerian Police over attacks on protesters in last week’s protests across the country.

Speaking, yesterday, during a special programme in Lagos, the cleric said the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has followed the line of honour by planning the strike action to protest the increase on fuel pump price.

Sheikh Shafi’i wondered why security agency would want to abort the protest considered worldwide as a civilised way of expressing views against government’s policy.

He said: “I think stopping protesters is an affront on Nigerians.”

He assured the Abdulwahed Omar-led NLC and members of civil societies coalition of the support of the thousands of Muslims who gathered for the lecture. The Islamic cleric urged Nigerians to ensure that the protests were peaceful and devoid of any activity that could turn it to violence.

-Vanguardwp_posts