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Why August 1 Hardship Protest May witness Poor turnout

By Inegbagha Majesty

There are strong indications that Thursday’s August 1 Hardship protest to end bad governance in the country and enhance food availability and affordability may witness poor turnout.

 


The impending poor turnout according to Global Overseer investigation was not unconnected with the fear that the protest may be hijacked by persons who have sinister motives to cause unbearable hardship or disaster worse than the prevailing situation the common man is bearing in the country.

Nigerians are not unaware that the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and Affirmed by the court.

Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) unambiguously guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association."

Our findings further revealed that since the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged the myriad of challenges confronting the people of nation, and asserted that the federal government will address them, the people want to give him the chance to work assiduously towards addressing them.

The patriotic Nigerians who want dialogue in addressing the nation’s problem averred emphatically that they don’t want what the protest caused in Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia to replicate in Nigeria, saying that if any politician fail in any election, he or she should not take it as a do or die affairs to cause havoc and instability in the country.

They added that ‘End Bad Governance Protest’ will lead us to nowhere as government affirmed it decision doing it best to tackle the motive behind the protest.

They further maintained that Nigerians have right to protest against bad government but it should not be under the disguise of failed politicians with sinister motives to cause anarchy, confusion and unbearable hardship to the poor masses.

We all are not unaware that Tinubu came into office when things were in disarray, working industriously to rectify them.

“The masses demand from the government are genuine but since all our desired cannot be achieve one Day, we should unanimously support the administration to achieve them, rather than applying unnecessary means that would affect incoming generation unbearably.”

They said that President has signed the N70,000 new minimum wage bill into law on  July 29, 2024 and directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sell crude to Dangote Refinery and other incoming refineries in Naira as well as granted 774 local government councils financial autonomy to enhance grassroots development, in addition increasing the states statutory  allocation; and they are optimistic that the economic policies  the federal government put in place would curb the  issues raised by protesters.

‘It is like many do not know the consequences of 10 Days protest. Nigeria is not ripe for protest now where the president is prepared to solve the problems.’

They asked "what is this protest for? If the protest is to influence Mr President to address the aforementioned challenges bedeviling Nigeria, then, there is no need to go on the street for protest as he is ready to collaborate with the masses in addressing them.

Undeniably, they are aware that Nigeria has a democracy deficit occasioned with endemic corruption and lack of welfare policies. Democracy as a system of government, guarantees involvement of the people in decision -making. This system of government gives citizens opportunities to choose and replace their Leaders or representatives through free and fair elections. And in a democratic system, it also protects citizens socio-economic, political and cultural rights. A successful democratic government bring good changes to the living conditions of citizens.

But the present state of Nigeria’s democracy has brought about unbearable myriad of problems such, Hunger, Inflation, high Fuel pump price, poor Minimum wage, Power or no light, Bad roads, Budget padding, INEC rigging of election with impunity, Nonfunctional refineries, Excess electricity tariff, Excessive bank charges, Consumption instead of production, Breakdown of law and order, Injustice at the courts, failed civil service system, Corruption and unaccountability of public office holders.

Nigeria has problems because it mixed corruption with the ineptitude of shallow evaluation of its national survival.

This problem of institutionalized myopia and absence of patriotism and deep thought for a better Nigeria is among the people’s reason for the protest.

Although, they are aware that Tinubu's economic reforms are yet to manifest on the tables of Nigerians battling with hardship, shortages of energy, lower electricity supply with high costs, an all-time crash of the Naira against the dollar, and its resultant effect on the prices of goods and services with hyperinflation and associated job losses in private sector; unable to continue in business because of the higher cost of operations.

Citizens, indeed were not happy over the prevailing economic challenges crippling the economy and multiplying hunger and hardship.

The masses acknowledged that since the second quarter last year the country has transformed to a nation of intense hardship for its nationals. Quality of life has dropped to almost zero, inflation keeps rising and has disposed the people of whatever savings they hitherto had.

Food prices have astronomically attained incredible heights, yet people must find a way to feed, therefore the disadvantaged class devises any strategy to put body and soul together.

But, it is a truism that these problems don’t start now that the current administration assumed office.

Therefore, since this administration is working hard to solve these challenges it is not fair to allow failed politicians used citizens as stooges to protest in order to achieve inordinate 2027 political ambition. Let us allow and support this government to implement her laid down policies to better the lives of the people.

They believe that this administration will enthrone good governance to improving the qualities of life of its people if given the chance through overwhelming support.

The administration has shown openness in government dealings and effective communication between government and the governed. It adheres to the rule of law and other basic aspects that will contribute to a governance framework that would truly serves the interests of the Nigerian people.

It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while unveiling his stewardship, said, his first one year has been challenging  because he inherited a bleeding country from his predecessor and he assured to move Nigeria to prosperity.

He promised to work assiduously so that all Nigerians can feel the impact of good governance.

He assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure they get value for every Kobo spent, and that his government will leave a lasting legacy of prosperity to future generations, while removing the yoke of poor governance and expanding access to qualitative public goods.

 “It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity,” Mr President said.

He added, “We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide. We are turning the bend. This I assure you. I am being very careful. The worst is over for Nigeria. We will prevail.”

The president, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said this when he hosted Yoruba leaders of thought in the presidential villa recently.

The President’s statement comes as Nigerians berate his performance in the past one year, lamenting the high cost of living and economic hardship in the country without offering tangible solution to make life meaningful for Nigerians.

President Tinubu emphasized that governance must be transformative and must address the critical needs of citizens.

He said the past 12 months have been fulfilling for his administration despite the presence of some challenges that are being addressed frontally.

 “We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide. We are turning the bend This I assure you. I am being very careful. The worst is over for Nigeria. We will prevail.

“I thank the team who have been working really hard. All I can promise that we will do whatever it takes. We are determined, and we will work so that all Nigerians can feel the impact of good governance,” the President said.

The President assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure they get value for every kobo spent, and that his government will leave a lasting legacy of prosperity to future generations, while removing the yoke of poor governance and expanding access to qualitative public goods.

“We will get value for our money, and it is not for ourselves, but for our children. Our children will not inherit the burden of bad governance. Yet, they will enjoy the prosperity of Nigeria as a blessed nation from our very hands; from our sweat. We will bequeath to them a nation full of pride and prosperity,” President Tinubu said.

President Tinubu also called for the deepening of governance and the reinforcement of leadership across all levels of government and institutions, adding that his administration is committed to encouraging fiscal federalism and strengthening the system to enhance inclusion and equity for all Nigerians.

“Healthcare upgradation is ongoing. Road rehabilitation and construction is ongoing. Education development is ongoing. I am charging you to look at what is going on in the states. Pay attention to your state governors. Tell them to take their responsibilities seriously and make the people focus of their development plans. Once there is synergy, then I can assure you that Nigeria will be one of the best nations that you will see anywhere on earth.

“Local government administration is being suffocated. People are looking at the opportunity to ensure that they survive and become more purposeful through community development programmes. What I will not support is any effort to make the local government a unitary system by handing all core responsibilities to the federal government. That is criminal when there is a federal system.

“We have a federal system. There is state and federal administration. We have two components. States must do whatever is in the best interest of their own process of administration. There is no one-size-fits-all. That is what we should do by looking at the revenue formula, and we must be consistent with federalism; fiscal federalism. Those are the things you should expect from me, not the knee-jerk reactions ahead of elections.

“Our population is growing. It is getting larger. The geographical requirement is getting bigger, so we still want more space for housing. The population is growing. So that is the basis for flexibility at the local government level. We must grow and expand,” the President said.

While thanking the delegation of eminent Nigerians, President Tinubu urged continuous support for and faith in Nigeria, assuring them that his government would live up to expectations

“I can tell you that Nigeria is no longer printing paper money and deceiving itself that it has a base for survival. Nigeria went through terrible labour pains, but we have seen the baby coming out alive,” the President concluded.

The protest is to demonstrate against bad governance, hardship and hunger.

There are cabals and powerful interests benefiting from the subsidy fraud that necessitated subsidy removal.

The Federal Government through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has also said there is no longer a need for the planned nationwide hunger protests scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024.

, This, he said while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday presided over by President Bola Tinubu. Idris stated that the government is already addressing some of the demands made by aggrieved Nigerians, and making efforts to make sure that food is made available.

He said, “Many of the issues that those planning the protest are putting forward are being addressed. The government is making efforts to make sure that food is made available.

“Rice has been taken to various centres across the country, and it is being sold for N40,000. This is just the beginning and necessary first step. Other efforts are underway.

“There is so much investment that is going into the agricultural sector and we believe that as we move forward, the price of food will come down.”

The minister said the president believes that the government is answering the questions being asked by the youths

He added, “The student loan is making sure that no youth that wants to go to school will be left out. By the time the CNG takes full course, the transportation issues will be resolved.”

Like so many groups across the six geo-political zones in the country have opted out of the protest, barely 48 hours before the start of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance, several groups in the states have announced their withdrawal from the demonstration.

The Arewa Citizens Action for Good Leadership (ACAGL), along with 23 other groups that participated in the protest mobilisation, have declared its intention to withdraw from it, according to leadership Online report on Tueday, July 30, 2024.

Addressing a press conference in Kano y, the group led by the spokesman of the Kano chapter of the ACAGL, Saeed Sulaiman, stated that they were withdrawing due to the potential risks, vulnerabilities and consequences of participating in the protest.

He explained that the decision was based on the need to prioritise the peace and stability of Kano State in particular and the northern region in general.

Also, the Nigerian Youth Parliament has appealed to the youth to reconsider their plan and instead opt for dialogue to vent their grievances.

Speaker of the parliament, Azeezat Yishawu, made this appeal in a press statement issued to our correspondent, on Monday.

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