…as NLC tells FG to prioritise Nigerians’ welfare
Delta Obidient Elders’ Council on Wednesday said the “insensitive speech” of President Bola Tinubu to toiling Nigerians at a moment of great expectations from him showed that he is out of touch with the reality of the country.
Reacting to issues from the ongoing #EndBadGovernace protest across the country, the Obidient Council, in a statement by its Chairman, Chris Biose, and Secretary, Solomon Akeni, urged the President to “desist from his grandstanding” and address realistic issues that affect the masses.
However, it noted that it was regrettable that the civil protest degenerated into violence, looting of property and destruction of public facilities in some parts of the country.
This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also urged the Federal Government to prioritise policies that would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
The Obidient Council said in the statement: “The President acknowledged the severe suffering of the masses but failed completely to present any fresh policy measure to respond to any of the demands of the protesters.
“On a general note, we find it shocking that President Tinubu failed to address the issue of horrendous killings of farmers in many parts of the country by armed Fulani herdsmen.
“It is unreasonable to believe that he does not know that this phenomenon is at the root of inability of Nigerian farmers to produce sufficient food for local consumption in the past few years.”
The Obidient Elders said Nigerians accuse President Tinubu’s administration of lack of accountability, profligacy, expenditure on frivolous items while majority of Nigerians are suffering from intense hunger but he failed to address these issues.
“He was silent about rampaging oil thieves that run down the economy. Worse still, he made no mention of investigating brutal killing of Nigerian citizens by his policemen, the statement said.
“The fact that the President could read such an insensitive speech to toiling Nigerians at such a moment of great expectations from him shows that he is out of touch with the reality in his country. It also shows that he has all the wrong people surrounding him.
“The factors that consistently generate increasing poverty in Nigeria are systemic, requiring fundamental reforms. These are exactly what the President sought to avoid in his speech. His attitude in this regard emphasizes the need for continuous struggle of patriots to build a just and egalitarian society.
“With respect to the Niger Delta of which Delta State is a part, President Tinubu evinced a total lack of concern for the peculiar problems of the region.
“All the problems accentuated by his insensitive policies such as unbearable cost of transportation and food are infinitely multiplied in the Niger Delta due to difficulties of water transportation,” it said.
On its part, the NLC, at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) on Wednesday to assess the welfare of Nigerian workers and the general populace in light of the hardship, demanded the reversal of all the “ill-conceived policies” that have led to the current economic crisis.
NLC, in a communiqué jointly signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said for accountability, there is need for an independent investigation into the killings and maiming of protesters.
“Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held accountable, and justice must be served to the victims and their families,” said Ajaero, who read the communique.
“All the peaceful protesters held illegally and unconstitutionally in government’s custody must be free without delay,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the protesters, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
Ajaero called on the government to implement immediate relief measures to alleviate the suffering of workers and the general populace.
He said these include the provision of direct food aid, subsidies on essential commodities, and other social safety nets.
