A support group for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Nigerian Youths for Atiku, has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the nation and reverse certain policies to alleviate the threat of nationwide protests.
According to Prof. Gold Emmanuel, NYFA President, Nigerians have the right to protest against the current socio-economic situation, and the government has a duty to protect them.
Emmanuel made the call on Saturday in Lagos, urging Tinubu to address the nation, reverse anti-people policies, probe Aliko Dangote’s concerns about oil cabals, reinstate fuel subsidy, reduce PMS price to N200, and instruct the Central Bank of Nigeria to reduce MPR and provide palliatives to the real sector, according to Peoples Gazette.
The group also encouraged peaceful protests and advised security agencies to protect protesters.
This comes as reports emerge of planned nationwide protests from August 1 to August 10, over rising living costs and economic hardships.
The group president added: “It is no longer news that Nigerians are presently going through the worst of times given the current economic situation in Nigeria.
“The government of President Bola Tinubu should address the country at this trying time, rather than shutting people up. This is not the practice in any advanced country where democracy reigns supreme. The reversal of all anti-people policies in Nigeria is also necessary amidst calls for a nationwide protest,” Ms Emmanuel said.
According to him, the government cannot exist without the people hence the citizens’ rights must be respected.
“We must tread carefully and listen to the people that we represent,” she said.
Ms Emmanuel, however, urged the potential protesters to conduct themselves peacefully without resorting to violence.
“We also admonish the President to instruct all security agencies to protect them such that no life is lost.
She stated, “While still awaiting government action on this intelligence provided by Dangote, we urge the government to reinstate the subsidy by reducing the price of PMS to N200. This is imperative since it is no longer news that the government is still paying the same subsidy. Since it is expected that Dangote will commence sales of refined products by August 2024, this will help the government control the price of the product, thereby alleviating the suffering of Nigerians.”
“The interests of the masses must be on the front burner, else we will get to a point where the rich will not be able to have sound sleep anymore because the poor are hungry and angry.”
Ms Emmanuel also urged the President to instruct the Central Bank of Nigeria to reduce the MPR currently at 26.75 per cent and provide palliatives to the real sector.
She said that the real sector had been badly battered by the resultant effect of FX volatility.
“The provision of safety nets and tax holidays of not less than six months to the existing manufacturing companies in Nigeria will not only assist them to regain stability but will also encourage those that have left to have a rethink.
“Keeping MPR at 26 per cent will definitely discourage borrowing. The real sector cannot sustain such strangulating interest rates. The CBN should also be magnanimous to reduce the cash reserve ratio to at least 35 per cent to 40 per cent which currently stands at 45 per cent.
““This support was borne out of our belief in his 2023 manifesto, which was tailored towards solving some of the economic and political problems currently bedevilling our nation at the moment,” Ms Emmanuel said.
