The momentum of nationwide protests against the distress in Bauchi was broken on Thursday when the Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups decided to call off the protests in the state because, in their view, peace and stability in Bauchi and Nigeria as a whole was paramount.
It said: “We have decided to call off the matter in the interest of peace and stability in Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole, realising that it is better to get the message out through the press than to allow some unknown and possibly irresponsible elements to turn the whole thing with good intentions into something that none of us likes.”
The Coordinator of the Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups, Comrade Hashim Bala Pali, thanked the members and fellow citizens of all camps for supporting the originally planned civil protest.
He said: “We are one of the leading civil society organisations that have together with other stakeholders, mobilised relevant stakeholders and security agencies to hold a nationwide peaceful protest against the harsh living conditions of Nigerians. These protests will hold from August 1 to 10, 2024.”
Comrade Hashim Pali explained that they were particularly concerned about the oil exploration in the Kolmani region commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which President Bola Tinubu attended about two years ago.
The groups regretted that the exploration site had been abandoned and work on this important project of significant socio-economic and developmental interest not only for the Northeast but for the entire country had been halted.
He frowned. “The issue is even more problematic because President Tinubu, during his campaign visit to the North East, promised to resume work in this regard, but that is not happening. Therefore, we demand an explanation for what is happening and the immediate resumption of work at the site.”
The group coordinator said that like most Nigerians, they saw the root cause of hunger, starvation and other difficulties facing our people as the cancellation of PMS subsidies as announced by the President in his inaugural address.
“Since then, life has lost its meaning for most of our citizens. Therefore, we join our compatriots in calling for the subsidy system to be reinstated with immediate effect. The survival of our people is better than political cosmetics and facades that do not lead to any results. So let us return to subsidies.”
They also pointed out that it was tactless of the government to increase electricity tariffs so sharply when most Nigerians can barely afford a square meal a day. The tariff increase was inhumane and not in the best interest of the country.
According to the groups, the increase in electricity tariffs must be reversed because not just a tariff increase but other alternatives to provide electricity at affordable prices must be considered.
“We also believe that the Student Loan Fund, which was introduced to cushion the increase in tuition fees at tertiary education institutions across the country, will not solve the problems of the average Nigerian in accessing quality education in the short or long term.”
The groups suggested that economic policies that increase the purchasing power of the average citizen, increase the value of our currency, etc., should be preferred in order to enable most citizens to afford a higher education without much effort.
“Review of foreign exchange policy and other macro and microeconomic measures of the government. So far, most of the economic measures of the Tinubu government do not seem to be working as their direct consequence is increasing suffering of the citizens. For this reason, we call for the rising inflation to be curbed and our national borders to be reopened.”
“We observe that most of our politicians take people for granted. That is why some politicians only think about involving citizens in the government’s response to these problems during national emergencies like this one. It should not be like this.”
They cited as an example that none of the ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet and other appointees have returned home to discuss the issues and the way forward with the people. At the same time, only a handful of members of the National Assembly are in their constituencies at this crucial moment.
