The planned nationwide protests are premature considering that the regime of President Bola Tinubu is about one-year in office. This is the view expressed by some Nigerians ahead of the protests.
A constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Barr Godwin Onwusi, in an interview, said Nigerians should rather evaluate the prospects of various policies of the Tinubu administration.
He said, “Our problems didn’t start from this government. One year is too short to judge Tinubu. The fuel subsidy removal was a bold step despite the pains. Tinubu’s students’ loans initiative, local government financial autonomy, the new minimum wage, and the signing of the South East Development Commission are all policies that have good prospects, and deserve the patience of Nigerians.”
He agreed that protests are a part of democratic principles, but expressed fear over possibilities of hijacking the exercise.
He said, “Some hoodlums might hijack it. It could be used to loot people’s property. The experience of the EndSARS is still being rued. Nobody can predict mob action.”
However, a human rights activist, Chika Nwagu, advised that the protests be peaceful and encouraged.
According to him, “Nigerians are hurt. The All Progressives Congress has been in power from 2015 to date, and the same problems persist. The policies of Tinubu are alien to people who don’t earn salaries. His budget is very high, and it was reported that about N6trn was added recently.
“Also, the APC government is a product of protests. Protests are allowed in the African Charter and our constitution. The expenditure of this government is very high. You can see that the proposed protests are yielding results. Tinubu has called a meeting of core stakeholders to discuss the planned protests. He should rather use the protests to articulate people’s opinions.”
Nwagu advised security operatives to be civil with the protesters, adding that, “Protests are a social construct. The act does not threaten the integrity of Nigeria. Security should guide the exercise, and the views expressed articulated towards good governance.”
Meanwhile, the Eastern Union has lent its voice to the planned protests. EU’s National President, Hon Charles Anike, advised Tinubu to restore Nigerians to what they were before he removed the fuel subsidy to avert the protests.
He said, “The only point for negotiation to suspend the protests will be the immediate reversal of petrol pump prices to how they were before May 29, 2023. Tinubu should also immediately restore the value of naira to what it was before May 29, 2023.
“Another point for negotiation will be the immediate removal of the INEC chairman and all his cronies in the commission. We cannot afford to continue to tolerate evil in our midst and expect to make progress. Also steps towards restructuring the country and review of the structure and composition of the over-paid, over-fed and overrated National Assembly members should be taken. These should be the terms for negotiation before the protests can be suspended.”
Shun Protests, One Year Too Short To Judge Tinubu’s Govt -Activists is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
