By TINA TIMOTHY

The West African Action Network on Small Arms – Nigeria (WAANSA-NIGERIA) has called on 2023 presidential aspirants, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Pastor Tunde Bakare to identify with the group as the embark on Save Nigeria Rally entitled “2022 Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence.”

The call is contained in a statement signed by the Director Media and Advocacy, National Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition for Peace and Security, Martin Igwe, who explained that WASNSA National Executive, had resolved, during the Civil Military Cooperation Conference held in Abuja on Monday, May 23, 2022 to invited Prof. Wole Soyinka, Tunde Bakare, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other presidential aspirants to join the rally in solidarity.

The statement reads: “WAANSA Nigeria Appeals to Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare to lead save Nigeria Rally with 2023 Presidential aspirants.

“Being a resolution by WAANSA Nigeria during the Civil Military Cooperation Conference held at Rotunda Hall, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, on 23RD MAY 2022.

“Rising from a very important conference on strategies to compliment security efforts in curbing conflict in Nigeria as election draws closer, our National Executives unanimously agreed to call on Prof. Wole Soyinka, Tunde Bakare, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other presidential aspirants to join in solidarity, the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence which aims to mobilize a save Nigeria rally all over the country, starting from Borno State from June 1- 8th, 2022.

“Nigerians woke up during the last administration seeing citizens take over the streets, protesting subsidy removal and the looting of trillions of Nigeria's hard earned resources by Oil markerts.

“While pastor Bakare queried how trillions were spent on subsidy, Prof Wole Soyinka studied the financial figures and confirmed that Nigerians are not only treated like second class citizens but are excessively dehumanised.

“Today, gun-related violence is overwhelming some states in Nigeria, the cost cannot be quantified, the negative economic implications is disturbing, hence our urgent call on Save Nigeria Group to mobilize to storm Borno, Kaduna and Anambara states to halt the killings and continue until victims of gun violence all over Nigeria are free.

“Civil Military relationship must not be an academic exercise, civil societies who lead that Save Nigeria rally must know that the situation in the country demands something like their occupy Nigeria. They will be doing justice to the theme of this year's Global Week of Action against gun violence campaign which centers on uniting efforts to improve gun control.

“Doing this will help the security Agencies who sacrifice their lives daily due to gun related violence sometimes covertly orchestrated by political Gladiator, Presidential aspirants should use global week of action to demonstrate their willingness to free Nigeria from the menace of gun violence in Nigeria.”