By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a bid to avert the proposed nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 19 against hunger and hardships in Nigeria, the Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) Worldwide has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently dialogue with the protest organizers and review some of his administration’s policies that have caused hardship for the people to prevent the strike action from taking place.
INYA President, Comrade Eniwake Orogun, in a statement made available to the press on Saturday, stressed that there is hardship in the land occasioned by hasty government policies.
The Isoko youth body also appealed to the youths and security agencies to avoid violent protests and the destruction of national and state assets.
It also appealed to security agencies to treat protesters in a civil manner if the protest goes ahead due to the failure to dialogue and engage with the protesters.
The Isoko youth body said, “Today, we are at the edge as a nation, with all aspects of existence greatly troubled, from the economy, security, socio-political, and corporate existence coming under some form of distress and perplexity.
“It is said that light exists at the end of the tunnel, but this particular tunnel seems too long that not even a flicker of light is in sight.
“It will be foolhardy to try to deny or explain the hardship which pervades the land, exacerbated by policies such as fuel subsidy removal, which many believe has produced the unintended outcome, or should we say, the exact intended outcome associated with wrong timing or hasty policy implementation, favorable only to some fifth columnists?
“Many are hungry, weak, and beggarly. The hardship is palpable, and succor seems far. The proposed protest is only a natural response, which is the least the vast majority of those who live below the baseline can do at this material time.
“Regardless, this protest can be avoided. We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to act as a matter of urgency by doing the following:
“Constructive engagement of critical stakeholders with a genuine view to providing short, medium, and long-term solutions to the myriad of problems facing the people.
“Reevaluate its priorities and address head-on issues such as inflation, insecurity, and the high cost of governance.
“Reconsider policies such as fuel subsidy removal, floating of the naira, and liberalization of our economy which have never worked in Nigeria or any part of Africa and have proven to be very injurious to individuals, families, and businesses.
“Constructive engagement of critical stakeholders with a genuine view to providing short, medium, and long-term solutions to the myriad of problems facing the people.
“Reevaluate its priorities and address head-on issues such as inflation, insecurity, and the high cost of governance.
“Reconsider policies such as fuel subsidy removal, floating of the naira, and liberalization of our economy which have never worked in Nigeria or any part of Africa and have proven to be very injurious to individuals, families, and businesses.
“Our leaders must learn from the 2011 Arab Spring and the recent not-too-good experience of the EndSARS protest, from which Africa and Nigeria are yet to fully recover, and act in the best interest of the nation.
“To our dear youths and fellow comrades, we stand by you at this trying time.
“However, if the protest must hold, hopefully it does not, let us be reminded that though our right to peaceful protest is inalienable and guaranteed by our constitution, we do not have the right to be destructive and violent. No one benefits from the destruction of national assets; if anything, it increases the suffering which the protest stands against.
“To our gallant security personnel, we implore you not to fall to the temptation of responding with brute force to our people, should the protest hold.
“Understand that people are hungry and angry, and the least expected of you is the performance of your constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“This is a trying period in our history as a people, and together we shall overcome.”