Hunger protests: Senators, Reps join last-minute mediation efforts
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Senators are among a vast network of intermediaries frantically appealing to Nigerians, especially the youths, to shelve the planned nationwide protests over the current hardship in the country, the, Nigerian Tribune gathered, on Sunday.
Nigerian Tribune said that some lawmakers have expressed concern that hoodlums might hijack the protests thereby throwing the country into a much bigger problem, including total breakdown of law and order.
“They are making good use of the annual recess. A lot of them are in their constituencies appealing to the people, especially the young people, to call off the planned protests.
“There are issues, no doubt, but a resort to anarchy is what they fear most,” a National Assembly official told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.
When contacted on the development, the chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Isa Jibrin (APC, Kogi-East), said he believed protests could not be a solution to the challenges the country faced at the moment.
“There is no economy in the world that is not facing one challenge or another. Solutions to economic issues are done through dialogues.
“We all appreciate the fact that the cost of living is high. The president we have today is also very mindful of this. That is why he has come up with various palliative measures to address the high cost of living,” Jibrin said.
Jibrin appealed for patience, recalling that the Tinubu administration had already taken some measures such as the increase of the national minimum wage and efforts to complete the ongoing Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the country’s four refineries which will ultimately cut down the pump prices of petroleum products.
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He said: “He has started addressing the issue of minimum wage, which has now been increased to N70,000. There is also a provision for periodic review after every three years.
“Besides, there are various discussions on how to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel that have contributed significantly to the problems we face today.
“If the refineries are working, there won’t be any need to import refined products from outside the country.
“There are various economic measures to bring down the cost of living. I insist that protests can never be a solution. They should shelve the protest. It will not only complicate the situation on our hands but also the chances of the protests being hijacked are very high.”
Some opposition lawmakers who declined to speak on record argued that the government has a responsibility to provide safety for the protesters and to protect public property.
“If what you are afraid of is anarchy, engage your security agencies to secure installations and also guarantee the safety of those who will protest,” one of them told this newspaper.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen,plans to engage segments of the Nigerian youth groups and organisations at a town hall meeting on Wednesday.
A statement by his media office said the town hall is in furtherance of the Legislative Agenda of the House, “which prioritises sustained youth engagement and legislative measures to promote youth political participation, representation, and inclusion in governance and decision-making.”
The event is organised in conjunction with the YIAGA Africa and the KonradAdenuerStiftung (KAS).
“It is to serve as a platform for direct dialogue, allowing young Nigerians to voice their concerns, share their ideas, and engage with legislative leaders on matters affecting their lives and futures,” the statement added.
Kalu pleads with organisers
Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Sunday enjoined organisers of the planned protest to jettison it considering the negative implications it may have on the citizenry and the nation.
The deputy speaker who gave the charge while meeting with the stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency he represents in the National Assembly, urged his constituents, residents of Abia State and the entire people of South-East geopolitical zone not to join the planned nationwide protest, saying it is counter-productive.
Kalu also appealed to the leaders across all levels of government to show benevolence to the people, especially at this time of dire need.
“This is the time to be with your people, calm their nerves, give them hope and solve their problem. Leaders, go to your communities and be with your people. Hear them and solve their problems. You may not solve all of them but at least, show them love and care,” he said.
Ado-Doguwa seeks review of laws for improved governance at state, LG levels.
The leader of Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa on Sunday begged Nigerians to shun the planned protest.
Ado-Doguwa who doubles as the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), gave the charge while addressing ‘Forum of former APC Council Chairmen in Kano State’ who paid him a courtesy call at his residence in Kano State.
He also called on the parliament to undertake reforms through amendment of laws to ensure better governance at state and local government levels, especially on Local Government autonomy and conduct of their elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) instead of State Electoral Commissions controlled by Governors.
He said that Nigeria is now in a tense state because of the anticipation of the planned protest.
“I agree there is hardship. We represent the people and we are doing our best to help in bringing solutions to them,” he said.
Hon. Ado-Doguwa also commended the latest ruling by the Supreme Court on local government autonomy which he said was a positive development for Nigeria especially if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be allowed to conduct impartial area councils elections just like they conduct general elections.
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Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has advised Nigerians against trying to influence or dictate to the youths on what to do.
Obi made the remarks while speaking to the press during the installation of NkemdiliNnonyelu as the eighth District Governor of Rotary International, District 9142, held at the Awka International Conference Centre over the weekend.
Asked if he was part of those sponsoring the planned protest, as alleged, Obi stated that he did not at any time contemplate sponsoring such action, let alone implementing it.
Obi said the sponsors of the protest are “Mr. Hunger, Mr. Unemployment, Mr. Inflation, Mr. Corruption, Mr. Poverty, Mr. Looting, and Mr. Unaccountability,” among others.
He, however, cautioned that while the youths should be free to express their views, their actions must remain within the bounds of the law.
He also urged older generations and leaders to listen to the youths and support their endeavours, pointing out that young people are often the ones most affected by poor leadership.
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday scheduled a meeting for Monday (today) with organizers of the planned protests, alongside stakeholders from the security and civil societies.
The governor who made this known in a statement in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said he had instructed his team members to reach out to representatives of various civil society groups and student bodies for dialogue on the state of the economy.
“We will convey outcomes of the session to government leaders from myself to Mr President in Abuja. It will also be an opportunity to tell stakeholders what we are doing as a government to resolve the economic hardship facing our people,” he said.
On its own, Abuja Markets Management Limited has urged traders and other market users in the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that the market is not infiltrated by people of ignoble intentions in the guise of peaceful protest.
Speaking with traders and other stakeholder over the weekend, the acting Managing Director, of Abuja Markets Management Limited, Engr. Abbas Yakubu, cautioned that experiences had shown that miscreants would not stop at anything to take advantage of any type of gathering in the market, peaceful or not.
Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Sunday, said it had put in place every necessary measure to forestall breakdown of law and vandalism by miscreants who might want to hijack the protest to destroy critical national assets in the state.
It called its Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across the state to take the assignment seriously and discharge their duties with high level of professionalism.
Police warn miscreants in Kwara
The Kwara State police command has said that any attempt by miscreants to hijack the planned protest will not be tolerated.
In a statement by the police public relations officer (PPRO), TounEjire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, on Sunday, the command said the command is committed to ensuring public safety and order, and that any individual or group caught engaging in acts of violence or other criminal acts would face the full wrath of the law.
Folarincalls for caution
The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Oyo State, Sen. Teslin Folarin, has raised concern on the effect of the proposed nationwide protest on the economy of the country.
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Folarin, in a statement, acknowledged that Nigerians are currently undergoing economic hardship, but submitted that embarking on mass protest would be counterproductive.
He said, “No responsible government would want its citizens to suffer, and I dare say, that no government would fold its arms while the citizens’ livelihood and survival are being undermined. As Mr. President has said, he and his team are working round the clock to turn things around.”
Give Tinubu more time to fix things – Kwara gov
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu as the administration continues to roll out programmes to ease things and improve the living standards of people.
He spoke in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government of the state, at the first coronation anniversary of the Onijagbo of Ijagbo land, Oba SarafadeenAdeniyiBabalola, and the launch of Ijagbo Palace Development Fund.
“President Tinubu is gradually fixing things. So, he needs our patience and support to get things done”, the governor said.
There’ll be no hunger protest in Benue – Gov. Alia
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday said he had the assurances of various groups that had dissociated themselves from the planned hunger protest in the state.
Governor Alia disclosed this to journalists after the mass held at the Government House chapel in Makurdi.
He applauded the security chiefs in the state for having good relationship with various groups that have dissociated themselves from the planned protest.
Alia noted that the state had suffered serious insecurity in the past and could no longer experience another protest.
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