By Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has appealed for calm and restraint to the youths in respect of the ongoing nationwide protests.
In a statement signed by the chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the senators appealed to the protesters to have sense of concern and hope for the future of the great nation. According to them, it is their democratic right to embark on a peaceful protest to press home their demands, it is equally important for them to recognize that most protests have ended up in violence.
Recall that unhappy and worried by hunger and hardship in the country, Nigerian youths organised and started protests on August 1st, which according to them would last for 10 days. However, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu made a nationwide broadcast to that effect on Sunday the 4th. Unsatisfied with the content of the broadcast, the youths continued with the protests in some parts of the country.
Since its beginning, the southeasterns had refused to join the protests, with the reason that they had not only lost their leaders like Ohaneze PG, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and Arc. Ferdinand Agu. They also appealed to Tinubu to address insecurity in the zone, which according to them can only be done by releasing the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, even as they asked Mr President to restructure the country.
While appealing to the youths to be calm in their protests, the chairman of the NSF said: “The current protests have resulted in the loss of lives and properties in some states, leading to the declaration of curfews. This was despite clarion calls by well-meaning Nigerians, including Islamic and Christian clergies advising you to look at other options to negotiate and engage with the government. Therefore, I wish to call on those who organized the nationwide protests to reflect on what happened on the first day of the protests.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is acutely aware of the challenges we face as a nation and is working tirelessly to address them. He has demonstrated his commitment to your welfare by increasing the minimum wage after engaging in constructive dialogue with the Nigeria Labour Congress. This is a significant achievement, and a testament to his willingness to listen and work collaboratively. The government has embarked on the Social Welfare Intervention Schemes like the cash transfer, consumer credit scheme, and N110 billion naira National Youth Investment Fund amongst others to reduce the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.”
