The Socialist Party of Nigeria has advised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai, to immediately resign following the massacre of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria by soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna.
The Socialist Party of Nigeria said this in a statement by its spokesperson, Segun Sango that; “We hold that the Chief of Army Staff, General Barutai, has shown that the Nigerian Army under his leadership is an anti-democratic and repressive army and we demand his immediate resignation. We call on the entire trade union movement to stage mass protests to demand an end to all these undemocratic attacks and in particular to call for the immediate resignation of the army boss.”
It also added, “We also condemn the pronouncements credited to the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam el-Rufai, imposing a ban on mass processions and protests in the state, which is directly targeted at the Shiites calling for the release of their famous leader.
“While we of the SPN may not agree with the Shiites on their religious fundamentalist perspectives and methodology, we submit that they have the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. We hold that the argument of the army that the attack on the Shiites was provoked by the barricading of the highway which the COAS was plying as completely baseless.”
The SPN further slammed the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, for showing solidarity with the military by banning religious processions in the state.
The Socialist Party of Nigeria also demanded the immediate release of Zakzaky and other Shiites languishing in detention.
Omolara Adegoke- Abuja