New Telegraph

Don’t Ignore Reasons For Hunger Protests, ACF Tells FG

The apex northern socio-cultural and political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned the Federal Government that it will be a mistake to ignore the reasons why some Nigerians went on a 10-days #EndBadGovernance protest because the action is over.

The Forum in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna yesterday also noted that the government at all levels should employ the same attention they invested into the strike in addressing the problems bedevilling the people.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said: “Ahead of the August 2024, planned 10-day National Protest, the Arewa Consultative Forum had raised fears and warned against the action fearing its potential to lead to the breakdown of law and order.

“Ultimately, protests took place in several locations nationwide, and after the expiry of the protest dates, a post-mortem is now in order.”

ACF said the protests took place mostly in large urban centres, August 1 and 2, but did not last the 10-day plan (as ACF predicted), adding that where it took place, the protest resulted in near generalised social disorder; as the actions and behaviour displayed by the protesters went far beyond permissible or reasonable limits and actually negated even the nebulously conceptualised reasons given by the faceless organisers of the action.

The Forum, which condemned the resort to violence in some places, said: “The looting, arson, vandalism and general brigandage were totally inexcusable; as was the waving of the Russian flag inexplicable and unequivocally condemnable. Predictably, locations in Northern Nigeria were particularly hit by such negative outcomes.

“It is inescapable that over time and especially in the last 14 months of the current political administration in Nigeria, there has developed generalised discontent, frustration, anger and disillusionment in the polity regarding the trajectory of public policy planning and implementation.

These have been obvious in the behaviour of protesters or those who looked on mutely; “The existential conditions of citizens, ostensibly, the rationale behind the protests are dire and need urgent attention; and it will be a grave mistake to ignore this,” ACF said.

Part of the statement also said: “Far too many citizens lack education, access to health facilities, economic opportunities and basic necessities to live comfortable or bearable lives.

Confounding the dire living conditions has been the challenges of insecurity in the country. “The federal and state governments, as well as the security agencies responded to the well-advertised protests and, no less.

There has continued to be very inadequate response to the genuine calls for the alleviation of the current suffering of citizens, most inadequately disappointingly, even if, ab initio, the constitutional rights to express grievances through demonstrations and protests are put into view.”

ACF also said the Forum extends its condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those that lost lives; commiserates with the injured and sympathises with those whose properties were looted or damaged during the protests.

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