#EndBadGovernanceProtest: Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye Sues for Calm.
I, Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye, deemed it fit to lend my voice in entreating with our youth and middle aged groups engaged in the End Hunger protests in the country to reconsider their stance on the ongoing remonstrations over the economic hardship now that it’s turning into violence and leading to deaths and vandalisation of both government and private properties, and embrace dialogue as means of channeling their grievances to the government.
There is no doubt that the cost of living is now so unbearable that demands swift, pragmatic and robust approach to salvage the situation by the government and all of us (for which PBAT has been working assiduously in addressing most of them phases).
You are right in expressing your dismay and pains to the government, however, there are multi ways of achieving this without causing harm to the country and fellow citizens as Mahatma Gandhi did in his days and brought rapid positive change to India; because peace and serenity are recipe for solving problems. Problems are not solved through chaos as Chief Obafemi Awolowo said, “Violence never settles anything right.”
In search for solutions to prevailing unfavourable situations, stemming and de-escalating the problem is the first step, but not expanding and complicating it as can be seen from the violence that erupted in some states where lives were lost, properties vandalized and curfews imposed.
The vandalism has crippled and drawn the entrepreneurs back, the curfews hamper economic activities and multiply the hunger, as many will starve being indoors for some days.
One of the most dangerous things about the protest is the involvement of children who throng the streets in most states; and in some of these states so many of them alongside the adults were caught on camera breaking into shops and looting properties belonging to their fellow citizens. This is a bad omen for the country, because the children will grow with the feeling that violence is the means of channeling grievances to the government and securing solutions to problems, which is not.
As we all know, Mr. President inherited a lot of problems with security challenges in all the zones of the country and the economy which is also in total shambles. One of the Ministers of the previous administration was on international television saying that their administration has grossly destroyed the country and brought it to its knees economically. To buttress his seriousness, he said even if Nigerians will tie them to stakes and shoot them, they deserved it.
Remember also, then President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, said , that nobody can fix Nigeria in four years. So, far, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has spent only a year and some months in office trying his best to address the issues he found on ground which calls for patience, understanding and support for him to succeed. I am not saying Nigerians should not vent their pains, rather, all well meaning critical stake holders , should assist by proffering solutions to the problems in an atmosphere of dialogue and peace; and not causing more havoc and pains through violence.
There were many efforts Mr. President made in ameliorating the hardships in the country, but were met with frustration and have only provided temporal succour
He has hugely increased revenue for states, and his policy on liberating the Local Government Areas is geared towards bringing development to the grassroots which also will create employment opportunities.
The government is working so hard to ameliorate the hardship brought by subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, by introducing Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, vehicles and mass production of the gas and also supporting Dangote refinery with good policies for the production of enough and cheap PMS.
There are policies also on ground to empower and boost small, medium scale enterprises , to boost the economy and the GDP of the country. These panaceas are achieved gradually and not magically with the swift snap of the finger.
The president has so far pleaded with the organisers of the protests to give him a little time and space saying he has heard their cries, and he will swiftly act on their demands appropriately.
At the end of all protests, time is always given to the government to solve the concerns raised, on a round table. Why prolonging the time with the remonstrations. Why not go straight to the round table and dialogue as time waits for no man?
Procrastination of discourse with the government is gross delay and hamstrung to productive activities.
If the protests continue and mayhem is perpetually committed, it will be a serious setback to the entire country, because the protesters themselves hamper with economic activities which generate revenue for both the private sector and the government, likewise the funds that will be used to resolve some of the problems will be used to refurbish the destroyed infrastructures.
Furthermore, the severe security challenges confronting the country such as the Boko Haram, secessionists’ attacks, bandits, kidnappers and herders/farmers clash can escalate with the perpetrators taking advantage of the violent protests to achieve their agenda. Foreign enemies can infiltrate and destabilise us too. In some states with mutual resentment and suspicion and fragile peace among the ethnic and religious blocs, can have the protests snowballed into ethno-religious crisis.
I plea with all the protesters in the interest of peace and progress of the country to kindly consider and be magnanimous and call off the protests before it is hijacked by fifth (5th) columnist and turn the country into war zones like Myanmar, Sudan, Kenya and other countries. This will only multiply the hardship beyond measures.( God forbid )!
I believe Mr. President has heard and understood the problems tabled before him, let’s give him a chance through dialogue.
I seize this opportunity to say a big thank you to all for coming to my 67th birthday celebration and for giving me your attention compiled by Hon. Emmanuel Ondaje Stephen Chief Press Secretary. Long live the Federal Government of Nigeria God bless you all.
Signed:
Senator Joshua C. Dariye,
JP, FCA MBA, MA ( Law & Diplomacy) Ph.D (in view)
Kawun Mushere
Jos. Nigeria.
