…propose dialogue to address economic hardships

As the nationwide protest against hunger and hardship commences in some parts of the country, a group, the Patriotic Nigeria Youth Forum has appealed to Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as canon fodders by “disgruntled politicians.”

Speaking during a solidarity march against the protest in Abuja, the group led by Comrade Olamide Odumosu raised concerns that the protests which were already degenerating into acts of vandalism in some parts of the country, were an invitation to chaos, and anarchy.

He said: “Incidentally, some known opposition figures have endorsed these protests, but have carefully refused to participate. The question is: if these protests are solutions to national challenges, why are these disgruntled politicians avoiding it?

“Fellow citizens, we advise you not to be used as canon fodders. It is purely common sensical to ask someone urging you into any task for a supposedly communal good why they are not willing to join you. All those you consider your alternative leaders who are campaigning for protests have in themselves rejected the protests by refusing to lead from the front lines, or even to join.

“And those who like to argue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the father or even grandfather of protests in Nigeria, are correct to the extent that Tinubu organized, participated in and supported protests.

“But what they carefully and shamefully so, deliberately avoid mentioning is that, unlike these masquerades behind this one, President Tinubu always showed his face. He had clarity about what he was protesting about, and we always saw him leading the protests.

“He also stopped when the demands were met or when there was an agreed position. Those were protests as opposed to this barefaced project for anarchy.

“The questions have been asked; who are the organizers of these protests so that they can take responsibility when they degenerate, because we know they must? To date, proposed protests have taken over our media space and yet we do not have anybody that we can engage directly on the details of the planning, the demands and the expected outcomes of the protest. In essence, we are happy discussing an eventual anarchy in our country, and somehow feeling good about it.

Odumosu appealed to Nigerians to reconsider proceeding further with the protest, as it has awakened some national consciousness between the citizens and government.

“Government is beginning to engage. And it should do so more vigorously. But we should allow this process of engagement to continue. It is more beneficial than calling out persons whose motives and tendencies are not known.

“Mr. President has taken a lot of initiatives to address the needs of citizens, including removal of ban and import duties on food items, as is being spearheaded by the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Bashir A. Adeniyi

“We should trust a President who within one year in office, introduced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), fund for SMEs, support for families and is on the project of introducing Credit Facilities to help citizens solve their needs and pay at more convenient times.

“Mr. President is on our matter. We know that hunger causes anger. But these problems did not just start. We need some time to allow the reforms to materialize. Let us support Mr. President. He is aware and is not sleeping on the issues.

“And for us in the Federal Capital Territory. We have a reason to look forward with greater hope because Wike is fixing the City. We may not like him or the Tinubu Administration, but what cannot be denied, except for mischief, is that the FCT has taken a quantum leap under Tinubu and Wike. They deserve our unalloyed support.

“Therefore, let us bear our challenges with the stoicism of the wise. We must not allow fifth columnists to use our problems as citizens to advance their causes and destabilize our country. Let us articulate our issues and forward them to the government.

“But we must in unison reject this well-packaged chaos called Protests. Nigeria is our own, we must not set our houses ablaze because we found rats in them or abandon our homes because the roofs are leaking. Let us work together to fix Nigeria.”