Organised Civil Society to Tinubu: How you can take protesters off the streets

The Organised Civil Society has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on sure ways of taking the hunger protesters off the streets nationwide.

This advice followed the broadcast by the president on the nationwide hardship protests which entered the fourth day today, Sunday, August 4, 2024.

The advice was given to President Tinubu in a statement today signed by Head, Coordinating Secretariat of United Action Front, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, and made available to TNT News.

“…our sincere opinion, is for the president to immediately address issues of the critical demands and yearnings of protesting Nigerians, especially the question of the reduction of fuel price to ₦167 per litre, which was the price of Petrol pre January, 2023 before the inauguration of the Tinubu government,” Olawale Okunniyi said.

“Secondly, the broadcast (this morning by Tinubu) refused to resolve the problem of very exorbitant electricity tariffs, which citizens are demanding should be brought to pre December 2022 price to enhance the prosperity of businesses, especially small scale businesses in Nigeria.

“These two demands, among others, if addressed by the government, are critical to ameliorating the growing hardships and sufferings in the country as they caused the current high cost of living and economic hardships in the first place. “And please let it be noted that the citizens are not advocating for the return of the subsidy regime, which is fraudulent and corrupt,” he added.

Speaking further on what Tinubu should do as a matter of urgency to resolve the face-off between his government and the hungry masses, the statement said,

“The CNG intervention by the president is good but not being well implemented to satisfy the demands of the citizens. What the citizens are saying is that if government is sincere about its CNG alternative to fuel, it should immediately make the conversion process of existing vehicles from fossil fuel to CNG free and easy for Nigerians by creating centres in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria, where interested vehicle owners can drive in and convert their vehicles free of charge for the period of one year. This way citizens will see the empathy and sincerity of the Tinubu government.

“One presidential intervention that can also take protesters out of the streets is if the president immediately initiates a genuine process of constitutional dialogue to re-negotiate Nigeria’s governance system and constitutional democracy as this has the potential of solving 90 percent of Nigeria’s political and economic problems.

“If the above steps, coupled with immediate reduction in the cost of governance can be effected by the president, we are very sure the protesters will be out of the streets immediately. “Nevertheless, we commend the president for coming out to acknowledge the dissatisfaction of Nigerians about the sufferings and hardships foisted on Nigerians by his economic policies.”