A coalition of Civil society groups under the aegis of CSOs Strategists have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address Nigerians in a national broadcast ahead of the planned Hunger protest slated to hold between August 1-10,2024.
The Coalition in a statement jointly signed by its conveners; Comrade Alex Omotehinse the National President Centre for Human Socio-economy Rights (CHSR), Comrade Ahmed Balogun Director Frontline Socio-economy research centre and ten other CSOs have urged PBAT to take bold steps gear towards addressing issues of Insecurity, increment in food products and problem facing oil and gas sector by fixing oil refinery.
It also maintained that the nation is at a point in history when silence is no longer golden.
“We call on President Tinubu to urgently address the country in a National Broadcast, noting that we are at a moment in history when silence is not golden.
“The address would afford the President, rare opportunity to connect with citizens, empathize with their plights, further explain the objectives of the reforms, and appeal for understanding and support.
“We also unequivocally call on APC led Federal Government under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find lasting solution to Insecurity, increment in food products and problem facing oil and gas sector by fixing oil refinery.”
While not oblivious of the afforded rights for peaceful assembly and protest as enshrined in the various democratic constitutions all over the world, the coalition maintained that such protest must be civil and not infringe on the rights and privileges of other citizens.
According to CSOs Strategists, certain elements referred to as real spectre of saboteurs are battle ready to catch-in on the planned protest to pull down the PBAT led administration on selfish grounds.
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“The CSOs Strategists observed with grave concern, that combination of organizations has been spreading information on the social media and other networks on resolve to embark on protest, tagged: -#End Hunger, #END BAD GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA”
The Coalition notes with worry the alleged, “congregation of a number of forces with manifestly, sole but hidden aim to pull down the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by any means necessary.
“These include, Oil and Gas, Banking and Finance (Forex to be specific), Agriculture and Food Supply Chains, as well as those fuelling extortive, hyper – inflation.
“It is noted that this Campaign has a lot of similitudes with protests that have degenerated into mass fiascos, mayhem and chaos in the past.”
“In truth, they have constituted themselves into real spectre of Saboteurs’ Transgression.”
Describing as an unfettered onslaught on Nigerians national patrimony by some socio-economic saboteurs, the coalition urged stakeholders to synergize in form of national alliance and stall their plot before it festers into a monstrous status.
“This Sabotage of our National, collective patrimony demands urgent, swift containment before it snowballs into fatal, social and economic consequences.
“Thus, we unequivocally call for a National Alliance Against Socioeconomic Saboteurs as the only lasting panacea to end hunger, hardships and crisis in our land.
“This is highly imperative if Nigeria must attain its lofty heights and citizens enjoy the benefits of present socioeconomic reforms.
“No doubt, Nigeria is abundantly blessed with minerals and natural resources. The question is, what are we doing against internal saboteurs, acting to perpetually cripple the nation?