President Bola Tinubu has been urged by the Delta State Obidient Elders’ Council to address the persistent hunger and hardship challenges in the nation.
In a recent statement, the council highlighted the ongoing nationwide hunger protests as a symbol of Nigerian youths’ determination to confront the intimidation and misinformation propagated by the government and its agencies.
Beginning on August 1, 2024, the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests are advocating for Tinubu’s administration to take action on issues such as hunger and economic difficulties.
Chris Biose and Solomon Akeni, the Chairman and Secretary of the council respectively, jointly signed the statement released to the press in Asaba, the state capital.
The council’s statement emphasized the need for President Tinubu to prioritize addressing the realistic problems faced by the Nigerian populace instead of engaging in political theatrics.
According to the council, the youth’s rejection of the insincere pleas from traditional and religious leaders to halt the protests demonstrates a significant disconnect between these establishments and the younger generation of Nigerians.
The youth’s demands aim to foster a more equitable and just society, including reducing fuel prices, cutting governance expenses, and narrowing the disparity in remuneration between political officeholders and other public servants.
While acknowledging the unfortunate escalation of the protests into violence and property destruction in specific areas, the council pointed out that such actions were a result of systemic issues that the government has neglected to address.
Referencing the lack of response from President Tinubu regarding the atrocities committed by armed Fulani herdsmen against crop farmers and the rampant oil theft crippling the economy, the council expressed disappointment in the leadership’s silence on these critical matters.
On a broader scale, the council criticized President Tinubu for failing to acknowledge the brutal killings of Nigerian citizens by law enforcement officers and the resultant impact on food production and security.