The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • A familiar failure

    A familiar failure

    For the umpteenth time, the country’s security agencies failed to save a kidnap victim.  A former deputy vice-chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, 79, was found dead about three weeks after he was, on July 9, abducted from his house with his security guard. His body was said to have been found “in a shallow grave along Airport Road.” It was unclear how he died.

    The kidnappers had taken them away in the retired don’s car. The police said they later recovered the vehicle. The kidnappers were said to have initially demanded a N50m ransom, and later stopped communicating with Olaofe’s family. 

    The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Adeniran Akinwale, was reported saying, “Yes, the professor has been found dead, and we are doing everything possible to exhume the body for burial.” He also said the police had arrested “many people,” adding, “we suspect insider involvement, as the security man employed by the professor was the one who planned it.” He promised that the police would “brief the public at the appropriate time.” The situation of the security guard was unclear. 

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa hails Ondo residentsfor shunning protest

    Before Olaofe’s body was discovered, members of the Are-Ekiti Progressives Union, the Ekiti Council of Elders (ECE), and the Nigerian Universities Pensioners’ Association, EKSU Branch, had called on the security agencies and the state government to intensify their rescue efforts. He was a member of ECE.

    The ECE president, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, said the kidnap “has left us deeply anxious and fearful,” adding, “we wonder where is the old system of finding a lost person, what of the new method of serial survey employing satellites, sniffer dogs, etc.”

    His words amounted to calling into question the efforts of the security agencies to rescue Olaofe. Indeed, the victim’s death in captivity was not the outcome the public had expected.

    Why did the security agencies fail to save the victim? They were not only expected to rescue the victim but also arrest the kidnappers. As things stand, the kidnappers may well strike again since they are still at large.

    This is a familiar story. It shows why the country’s security crisis persists. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agents to ensure that when kidnaps happen, the victims are rescued, and the perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted.  Sadly, this did not happen in the case of Prof. Olaofe. Indeed, in too many kidnap cases in the country, the criminals get away with crime.

  • Strategic solutions to food insecurity

    Strategic solutions to food insecurity

    By Adetola Odusote

    Sir: One sure  strategy that could help mitigate food insecurity in the country is to set up machinery for the improvement of agricultural productivity by encouraging farmers to embrace the use of modern farming techniques, precision agriculture, improved seed varieties, and efficient irrigation systems.

    Government at all levels also needs to create access to inputs, ensuring that farmers have access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides and exposing farmers tobest practices, pest management, and sustainable farming methods.

    The government should as a matter of urgency strengthen transportation networks. One refers here to rural roads and transportation networks to facilitate the movement of goods from farms to markets. Time to encourage public private partnership in the provision of storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

    One other effective way to support for smallholder farmers is access microfinance and credit; another is to encourage the formation of farmer cooperatives to enhance bargaining power and reduce costs through collective purchasing and selling.

    It is time for our agriculture ministries to strengthen agricultural extension services to support farmers with technical advice and information.

    Read Also: Reps member says poor communication keeps Tinubu’s achievements hidden from Nigerians

    State and local governments should face reality of their peoples needs. They should support and cooperate with the federal government in addressing the food shortage situation of the nation. Every state should as a matter of necessity, prioritize agriculture development. Provide support base for farmers in their states

    Nothing stops the government from converting the National Youth Service Corps programme into National Youth Farming Scheme, whereby all youth corps members are trained right from camp in various areas of agricultural farming, animal farming, seeds production etc. The host states should be mandated to provide prepared arable land, farm tools, farm inputs, and other resources, including financial resources required for the young corps members to succeed in their respective states. At the end, the state governments through the local councils would be expected to purchase the yields from their farm lands.  Naturally, some of these corps’ members might in the end embrace farming at the end of their service year. Moreso. they will have enough capital and experience to embrace farming rather than be looking for unavailable white-collar jobs, or go into crimes.

    The federal government should foster international partnerships to access funding, technology, and expertise, leverage international aid and support to implement large-scale food security programs and projects. In all, a coordinated and sustained effort is essential to address the root causes of food insecurity and ensure long-term food security for Nigeria.

    •Adetola Odusote,

     Lagos.

  • Protests: When time is the enemy

    Protests: When time is the enemy

    By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: Who is to blame for Nigeria’s many woes? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Goodluck Ebele Jonathan or former president, Muhammadu Buhari? Or is it Nigerians themselves? Just who?

    The protests which have resonated across the country speak to pent-up anger at the hunger harassing the country.

    In May, Nigeria marked 25 years since democracy returned to the country in 1999. A watershed in the country’s history of hell and high water had a rarity in the presidency.  President Tinubu is arguably the first democrat at heart to become Nigeria’s president. His unmistakable commitment to democracy fetched him exile following the annulment of the 1993 elections. His first real crisis as Nigeria’s president and the chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) came when the military in neighbouring Niger Republic bludgeoned its way into the government house in Niamey. President Tinubu’s trenchant criticism of the coup plotters and defence of democracy in the country and sub-region cemented his commitment to democracy.

    The morning tells the day and so far, there are signs that the president in not cut from the same cloth as his predecessor. There have been signs that he is determined to address the problems of the country. Some of his key appointments have directly addressed the exclusionary politics of his predecessor. He has tried to be fair to every region of the country, strongly resisting the temptation to victimize any part of the country relying on voting patterns during the last elections. Insecurity has fallen sharply in Kaduna and Benue states which fed the country with vast killing fields during the last administration.

    The clear signs of progress may be blurred by the removal of fuel subsidy and the sharp spike in the cost of living. On the other hand, some Nigerians are making the point that the government should not ask for sacrifices when it is not ready to make any. They argue that the fuel subsidy was peeled out without any plans, plunging Nigerians into debilitating hardship.

    Read Also: Abuja peaceful protest turns violent as people scramble for safety

    It is okay to feel a sense of betrayal but at this point, blame is, if not exactly, misplaced, mistimed.

    Nigeria is no doubt in a deep mess. The country is steeply sunk in the muck of corruption. Corrupt syndicates which run many Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) well predate the current government. There are many state governors who remain committed to incompetence and ineptitude. The fuel subsidy syndicate is committed to some sort of fightback. Those fuelling insecurity won’t go down without a fight. Oil thieves are still sharpening their tools. While it is the responsibility of the government to give these groups a run for their money, one year and two months is not enough to muster an effective response. Time is the enemy here.

    It is understandable that Nigerians are impatient. Having woken up from their slumber during eight disastrous years under Muhammadu Buhari, they are itching to make amends for their docility. They expect a quick fix. What they need though is a dose of reality.

    President Tinubu is not a miracle worker. He has never held himself out to be a miracle worker. To mould Nigeria’s myriad problems into a mound and expect him to be impaled atop less than two years into his administration is mere wishful thinking.

    At present, even a miracle worker would struggle to pick through Nigeria’s rubble. Since something appears to be stirring under President Tinubu, the least Nigerians can do is to wait with impatience but with mercy.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Right to protest: A grammar standpoint

    Right to protest: A grammar standpoint

    By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD

    Sir: The constitution of Nigeria is silent on whether “protest” or its euphemistic version, “peaceful protest”, is allowed or not, and this has resulted in arguments among the legal practitioners in Nigeria. While some lawyers have argued that protest is a constitutional right, others submit that its legality is only within the existence of other rights such as the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. With the controversies surrounding the legal stand, I conceived of grammar as possible intervention in the face of the uproar. After all, the name of an act can serve as its operational boundary. So, what is a protest?

    The Online Cambridge Dictionary gives it as “a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or opposition”. “If you protest against something or about something, you say or show publicly that you object to it”.

    The last quote is the clarification given in Collins Dictionary. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary takes it a step farther by defining protest as “the expression of strong disagreement with or opposition to something; a statement or action that shows this”. The ambiguity in this definition, however, is the limit of the action that characterises a protest.

    This leads me to the explanation of a synonym for protest: riot. The Cambridge Dictionary defines riot as an occasion when a large number of people behave in a noisy, violent, and uncontrolled way in public, often as a protest. Collins Dictionary makes it clearer that “when there is a riot, a crowd of people behave violently in a public place, for example they fight, throw stones, or damage buildings and vehicles”.

    Again, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is succinct in its description of riot as a situation in which a group of people behave in a violent way in a public place, often as a protest.

    Evident in the explanations of these two words is their somewhat dangerous intersection. While it has been explained that a protest can be action-based, the level of action can swiftly move one to the realm of riot while still assuming one is protesting.

    Read Also: Reps member says poor communication keeps Tinubu’s achievements hidden from Nigerians

    It is at this point deserving of explanation that while protest can be said to be constitutional within the ambits of certain fundamental human rights, section 71 of the Criminal Code is explicit on the consequence of riot: Any person who takes part in a riot is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years. In countries where the legal system distinguishes between very serious crimes and less serious ones, a felony is a very serious crime such as armed robbery. Cambridge Dictionary defines felony as an example of serious crime that can be punished by one or more years in prison.

    What is there to add?

    Whether now or any other time, protesters must be mindful of the tiny line between protest and riot and understand that the latter is a punishable offence. No government anywhere in the world will be tolerant of the vandalisation of public infrastructure and looting. Therefore, it is important for protesters to act within the limit of law and be mindful of the possibility of a swift change from protest to riot. Opinion leaders and influential Nigerians must put measures in place to ensure that what is intended as a protest does not become a riot, especially through the activities of miscreants who will hide under a peaceful protest.

    •Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD,

    Lagos State University, Ojo.

  • NDLEA and illicit drug traffickers

    NDLEA and illicit drug traffickers

     Sir: One of the major issues soiling the image of Nigeria abroad is its citizens’ involvement in the trafficking of illicit drugs. This has damaged the image of this country to the point that Nigerians travelling to other countries are not only subjected to discriminating and embarrassing search experiences at international airports but stereotyped as ‘a country of drug traffickers.’

    On account of a few black sheep that besmirched the name of the country with trafficking activities, Nigerians have been declared unwanted in some countries. In some extreme instances, innocent citizens have been endangered by the criminal activities of their unpatriotic compatriots.

    For example, a few years ago, a group in South Africa that called itself People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, PAGAD, went on a rampage on the street, killing anyone found to be a Nigerian, whom they accused of masterminding drug rings and other organized crimes in their country.

    In recent years, the government of Seychelles has also issued a persona non grata edict against Nigerian tourists whom they allege bring drugs into the country.

    Some social commentators have correctly pointed out that harsh treatment against Nigerians abroad is fuelled largely by the trafficking activities of some unpatriotic citizens of this country.

    Back in the 1960s, Nigerians were once known for their virtues: industrious, God-fearing and law-abiding. But a tiny minority of unscrupulous Nigerians has destroyed our good image.

    Just recently, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a decisive operation, intercepted a drug smuggling attempt by one Orobi Adoubi Amen on Thursday, July 18, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Amen, a passenger from Benin Republic heading to Dubai via Accra, Ghana, on an Air Peace flight, attempted to smuggle narcotics into Dubai.

    Read Also: Lead Generation Initiative vows to join nationwide protest

    Just imagine that this was coming shortly after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government lifted a 21-month travel visa restriction imposed on Nigerian citizens on July 15.

    The prompt actions of NDLEA saved the country from what could have been another international scandal were he to be caught in Dubai with drugs.

    NDLEA has caught scores of drug traffickers heading to the Middle East and India in the past few months.

    By and large, we are coming to terms with the critical role of NDLEA in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and its global reputation.

    Every effort must be made by government to ensure that this agency is fully optimised with the necessary human, material and monetary resources to continue its good run against unpatriotic citizens bent on bringing shame to  our country.

    •Tosin Damola,Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Nigerians and the rhetoric of bad leadership

    Nigerians and the rhetoric of bad leadership

    Sir: The right to protest is a key component of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution. The peculiarity of our own situation in Nigeria is the question of who will cast the first stone at this very stage of our historical predicament.

    At every point of our national discourse, we are always quick to conclude that the whole issue of fixing our nation right is about bad leadership. The average Nigerian who is ready to cheat at every transaction, those who won’t respect traffic lights, those who sell seven litres of petrol for 10, who scoops a full bucket out of a bag of rice and sells as full bag, all blame the leaders.

    Interestingly, we all blame the politicians, whereas the actors in our political scenes in this country have come from every professional sector.  Teachers, lawyers (worse of all), military personnel, doctors, accountants,  engineers, surveyors, clergies of both faiths,  Civil Service, even journalists, all constitute the political class.

    So the politicians in question are just the typical ordinary Nigerians in all ramifications. The legal practitioner who knows quite well that a Federal High Court does not have the jurisdiction on a certain matter whose  jurisdiction is vested in a state high court, yet takes it there and secures a judgement or vice versa, and will appear on the television thereafter talking about bad leadership. The university lecturer who harasses students for sex and uses same as criteria for pass mark also complains of bad leadership. Same as the rank and file police officer who harasses innocent people on the road through their road blocks. So who or which sector is different?

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    Today, every member of the National Assembly wants to establish a university in his or her constituency. All former presidents and governors have established universities in their villages. Suffice to say, present ones have equally started same. There are various bills slated for hearing and legislation in the upper chamber for the creation of universities in the villages of the sponsors. Primordial sentiments have thrown statesmanship overboard.

    I was once privileged to sit with a couple of taxi drivers at a mechanic workshop in Abuja and heard all their discussions on the performance of their respective representatives at the National Assembly. It was all complaints of not being able to attract any federal presence in their constituencies. Complaints of non-response when they needed monies for burials, naming ceremonies, house warming, and payment of school fees; complaints of non-distribution of “dividends of democracy” which, in their expressions, are basically but not limited to monetary gifts.

    This is a cross all political office holders across every strata of governance, whether appointed or elected, must bear in our country.

    We all want universities and federal establishments in our constituencies, whether it is logical, appropriate, or morally correct. Same as every federal institution. Whoever has the privilege of doing so but fails to do it on moral basis will be crucified by his people. So there is a rat race to “corner” all or any available federal or state institution to our villages.

    Given the circumstances where the planners of the impending national protest are not conversant with Nigeria’s political and administrative history, if they take some time to read through our past history, they will see the contributions of their fathers, mothers, uncles, aunties, relatives, townsman and current mentors in the present predicament of our dear country. Some are just lucky that their past deeds are not remembered because most of us suffer collective amnesia.

    At every end of year, our media outlets, electronic and print, give awards of outstanding leadership in every sector of governance, politics, economy and the creative arts to leaders in Nigeria and at the beginning of the following year, we start complaining of bad governance.

    There is the need for individual re-orientation and rebirth on selfless patriotism. The irony of it is that when we point one accusing finger at government, four other fingers are pointed at us as citizens too. We must all be conscious that we must make our country succeed by contributing our positive individual quota to national development. The leadership too must be selfless, transparent and accountable to the people. It must be responsively conscious of people’s yearnings.

    Institutional infractions must have dire consequences especially when it is against citizens good and welfare. The government in itself must do strategic communication at all times on its programmes and actions for proper understanding by the citizens.

    Finally, all sectors of governance must equally be held accountable from federal to state and local governments. I hope the protest comes and goes peacefully; we cannot afford a repeat of EndSARS riots.

    •Fola Aiyegbusi,hefzibar2006@yahoo.com.

  • Leadership: What’s old age got to do with it?

    Leadership: What’s old age got to do with it?

    Sir: Over the decades, the narrative that the nation’s elderly statesmen are responsible for its persistent woes has gained traction. However, a closer examination reveals that much of Nigeria’s leadership since independence has been in the hands of relatively young leaders. These youthful leaders, many of whom were in their 20s, 30s and 40s when they assumed power, have often been at the helm during some of the country’s most challenging periods.

    Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was 48 years old when he assumed office. He led the country through its early years of independence, but his tenure was cut short by a military coup in 1966. The coup brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was just 42 years old, into power. His rule lasted only a few months before he was overthrown and succeeded by General Yakubu Gowon. Gowon, one of Nigeria’s most youthful leaders, assumed power at the tender age of 31.

    The 1970s and 1980s witnessed a series of military coups, often led by young officers. General Murtala Mohammed, who became head of state in 1975, was only 37 years old. His brief but impactful tenure was marked by bold reforms and an anti-corruption stance, but his assassination just six months into his rule underscored the instability of the era.

    Following Mohammed’s death, General Olusegun Obasanjo, then 39, took over and successfully transitioned Nigeria to civilian rule in 1979. However, the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari was short-lived, as another youthful leader, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, aged 41, seized power in a coup in 1983. Buhari’s regime, marked by strict anti-corruption measures and human rights abuses, was itself overthrown by Ibrahim Babangida in 1985. Babangida, aged 44, implemented several economic reforms but also annulled the 1993 presidential elections, leading to widespread unrest.

    Read Also: Niger Delta ex-agitators pull out of proposed protest, say promoters plotting anarchy

    The return to civilian rule in 1999 brought Olusegun Obasanjo back to power, this time as a democratically elected president. The subsequent presidencies of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan saw leaders in their mid-50s, relatively young by political standards. Jonathan, in particular, assumed office at 52 and faced significant challenges in tackling corruption, insecurity, and economic instability.

    As of now, Nigeria’s leadership continues to be relatively youthful compared to many other nations. President Muhammadu Buhari, who returned to power in 2015, was 72 at the time, representing a departure from the trend of younger leaders. Despite his age, his administration faced criticism for its handling of economic policies, security issues, and corruption.

    It is evident that Nigeria’s history is replete with instances where youthful leaders have had the opportunity to steer the nation’s course. While age alone does not determine a leader’s effectiveness, the frequent turnover of young leaders has often led to inconsistency, policy reversals, and a lack of long-term vision. The narrative that the elderly are solely responsible for Nigeria’s challenges overlooks the significant influence and, at times, mismanagement by their younger counterparts.

    By the way, Yahaya Bello became the governor of Kogi State in January 2016 at the age of 40. Ben Ayade became the governor of Cross River State in May 2015 at the age of 46.

    As Nigeria looks towards the future, it is crucial to correct the erroneous impression that it is our aged parents that mismanaged our nation; it is time to strike a balance between the conquer-seize-and-occupy energy and innovation of youth and the wisdom and experience of older generations.

    This is not a rejection of youth but an acknowledgment that experience, stability, and long-term vision are essential for national progress. By fostering a political landscape that values both youthful dynamism and seasoned wisdom, Nigeria can hope to achieve the progress and development its people so richly deserve.

    •Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba,Lagos.

  • Autopilot

    Autopilot

    Autopilot — what a name!  But that’s what Simon Ekpa, an Nnamdi Kanu wannabe, names his lunatic wing of IPOB.

    Or what would explain cowardly gunmen attacking the Onotsha-Owerri expressway, killing a law-abiding Igbo woman plying honest trade with her POS machine and thereafter bragging over it?  Autopilot indeed!

    For coward Ekpa and his blood-thirsty thugs, killing off peaceful people, of their own stock, is worth toasting to liberate Biafra!

    To serenade that madness, a confetti of colourful fakeries: Biafra Defence Forces and Biafra Liberation Army, purported armed wings of the Autopilot IPOB, according to a news report in The Nation of July 31.

    Autopilot IPOB, on autopilot to anarchy in the same “Biafra”, in the doomsday vision of Ekpa?  Now, what of IPOB’s so-called Eastern Security Network (ESN), which the boastful Emma Powerful often rhapsodizes?  That is too tame for Autopilot IPOB?

    Hear Ekpa crow from his Finland woodworks: “The Biafra Defence Forces Owerri Command has recovered weapons from terrorists after neutralizing them in numbers,” he raved, “If you think you will continue to use force and terrorism tactics to force us to remain in the union, this will continue to be your faith in Biafraland.”

    Read Also: Ondo protest organisers pull out

    “Faith” indeed!  It certainly takes a terrorist to know another, aside from the heavy fate of locating your faith in anarchy!  Ekpa’s sweet “faith” is clear: chaos; fast becoming the gory fate of many hapless Igbo, driving their daily hustle in that enclave.

    Meanwhile, the killings which Ekpa celebrates also involved arson at a nearby eatery — somebody’s hard investment — torching a car belonging to a medic making his daily rounds, aside the quake and trauma that gripped the precinct!  All to impose a sit-at-home order!

    As for the surprised security agents — killed or maimed — it’s unclear how that could translate into a “victory”.  For starters, the militants were chased into their rat hole: one killed; others fled with bullet wounds, their operating cars abandoned and seized.

    Even if they all escaped unscathed, how does the killing of those paid to secure a place translate into a plus for its denizens?  How does Igbo-on-Igbo violence benefit anyone?  How do fleeing ventures, from Ekpa’s anarchic faith, benefit the “Biafra” of Ekpa’s jaundiced dreams?

    During the last EndSARS protest, Nnamdi Kanu was yelling like a demented soul, pointing at properties his goons would bomb and raze.  Now, he’s caged, awaiting how his treason trial pans out in court.

    With the much-ballyhooed “10 Days of Rage” starting today, who knows what murderous mischief brews in Ekpa’s unhinged mind?

    No madness lasts forever as Kanu is finding out.  When Ekpa too is dragged home to answer for his crimes, let no mealy-mouthed lobby cry for a so-called “political solution”.

  • Between ECOWAS and AES

    Between ECOWAS and AES

    Sir: There is Hausa adage that says you should not stab yourself through the stomach and start boasting. This is exactly what the three Sahelian countries -Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger did, when they served the notice to exit ECOWAS.

    It is tantamount to committing economic suicide for these landlocked countries to break away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    These countries, not ECOWAS are the real losers. It is even more pitiable that after all their contributions to the building of the most formidable regional bloc in Africa, they have now exited!

    I learnt that in the Ivory Coast alone, there are over four million Burkinabe living there, earning their living peacefully without tears.

     Moreover, millions of Nigeriens have made Nigeria their permanent abode. Some of them have amassed immense wealth.

    But once it is formalised and confirmed that the AES have left, then all these foreigners living in ECOWAS territory must apply for residence and work permits. All those Nigeriens, Burkinabe and Malians who take advantage of our porous border to sneak into the country anytime they deem fit, will have to apply for a visa before entering any ECOWAS territory.

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    One of the significant contributions of ECOWAS is trade liberalization, including removal of tariffs. As a result, today, many member countries buy goods at cheaper price. But once these countries exit ECOWAS, then they would stop to enjoy this privilege. They would buy the goods at more expensive price.

     Again, ECOWAS offers humanitarian support to its members during natural disaster. The most beneficiaries mostly are areas like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali that experience desertification and drought perennially. But the moment their exit is formalised, they can kiss a goodbye to this support.

     ECOWAS members share intelligence, conduct joint military operation, etc. This is another potential monumental lost to AES.

     ECOWAS also offers $1 Million to every member state for counterterrorism. Mark the phrase: “Member states”. This means Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso will soon cease to enjoy this largesse.

     Finally, the so-called Alliance of Sahel States does not have direct access to sea. This puts them in a conundrum. We are amusingly witnessing the drama between Niger and Benin. We are enjoying it because one country is poor, and it is arrogant, unwilling to bend and negotiate.

    The AES lacks concentration of manufacturing industries. Most of their exports include meat and vegetable. This will also work against them.

    Therefore, it is crystal clear that unless these countries –Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger want to drag their countries into economic doldrums, they have no option but to return to ECOWAS. Grandstanding cannot work.

    •Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar,Unguwa Katsina.

  • Better to go for the calm before the storm

    Better to go for the calm before the storm

    Sir: A Yoruba adage says it is the beginning of war that we know; nobody can tell how it would end. It’s therefore in this foregoing and a sense of responsibility that I fervently I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to quickly step in to calm the nerves of restive Nigerians to avert the planned nationwide protests.

    Undisputedly, every citizen has the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and protest. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Section 39 (1) unequivocally reinforces these fundamental rights. The rights of citizens to protest is an integral democratic instrument with which the people, who feel oppressed, deploy to pressurize the government to deliver equitable governance for the people. It is also an avenue to cause change by voicing out grievances to the government on any unsatisfactory policy.

    That some Nigerians are planning to embark on a 10-day protest is not unjustifiable considering the current economic realities which have plunged many into severe poverty and rendered many hopeless. Nigerian people have really endured and have also been patient. They should not be denied the opportunity to express themselves within the instrumentality of the law and for the government to hear them out.

    The demands of the aggrieved Nigerian youths are certainly meritorious and deserving of government’s attention. They want the current hardship mitigated and desire good governance. It would be an act of hypocrisy for anyone to feign ignorance of the economic quagmire in the land.

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    Even the president himself has several times acknowledged and lamented the unpalatable situation with promises to mitigate the sufferings. However, despite various economic policies and measures to bring down the inflationary trends, and perhaps relief the pain and agony of the people, the results have not effectively yielded the much-needed impact on the masses. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recently cried out that many Nigerians are barely able to afford basic meals as a result of their low purchasing power in view of the rising cost of food items. The government must re-strategise to change the narrative.

    President Tinubu should listen to those dissenting citizens, who do not only mean well for the country, but also desirous to see Nigeria work for anyone regardless of social or political status. As for the seemingly political undertone and agenda behind the planned protests; that should not deter the president from taking pragmatic steps to defuse the tension. It is unhelpful to describe the angry youths as mere political jobbers or criminal elements. It would also be hasty for the government to conclude that the ultimate motive of such demonstration was to tarnish and destabilize the country.

    Certainly, we cannot afford to allow our already unstable economy to crumble or be crippled again. We should not allow things to degenerate like the ENDSARS did. Also, we cannot afford to lose the gains we have achieved so far in the security and infrastructure sectors. The planned protests must be curtailed by all means necessary. The president needs to talk to Nigerians and promptly walk the talk.

    It is time for his administration to take proactive steps to curb the acute hunger and abject suffering in the land.

    I am certainly not calling for more food or cash palliatives as these interventions do not really get to the needy but to the hands of corrupt state officials who only divert them for their greed.

    The president needs to come up with immediate actions to douse of the tension and to renew the hope of Nigerians in the possibilities for good governance. Remember, it is always better go for the clam before the storm.

    •Damilare Adeleye,damilareadeleye025@gmail.com