Avoid fresh protests – Nigerian farmers urge Tinubu to act on hunger, poverty
A group known as the Indigent Farmers Association of the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria (IFAS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to focus on addressing the grievances of protesters in order to prevent further unrest.
The group’s open letter to the president emphasised the urgent need to address issues such as widespread hunger, poverty, insecurity, corruption, and various other challenges facing the country.
This comes as reactions continue to be mixed following the recently concluded nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, reports Nigerian Tribune.
The letter signed by the Executive Chairman, High Chief Levi Vincent, appealed to President Tinubu to see the nationwide hunger protest as a ‘blessing in disguise’ instead of being discouraged or playing to the gallery.
Vincent noted with delight that the protest will surely redefine the nation’s democratic ideals and strengthen the structure for good governance.
He said, “It’s good to see Nigerians display high sense of maturity in expressing their grievances over the poor state of our economy that found evidence in hyperinflation, poverty, diseases and excruciating hunger.”
His words, “Nigerians are looking for a country that works for everyone irrespective of tribe or tongue. I sincerely hope you can seize this historic moment to reshape leadership in Nigeria. This is a duty trust you cannot afford to lose.
He reminded President Tinubu that his administration needs everyone of the protesters, maintaining that their fears and grievances are real and founded.
Chief Vincent drew the attention of Mr President to the fact that most of the highly commendable socio-economic interventions his administration embarked upon since inception hardly get to the grassroots who are supposed to be the actual beneficiaries.
He said that “in the area of agriculture, the real farmers in the South East that I represent, do not have access to ordinary fertilizer, as against tractors, harvesters, and improved seedlings etc adding that this total neglect of agriculture has created very huge economic gap resulting into social security problems ranging from laziness to violent criminal activities”.
He said: “Your Excellency, must take advantage of this protest to re-visit most of these anomalies hindering our nation’s growth and prosperity. You must begin to align with registered grassroots based associations for genuine rural development”.
According to him, in view of recent threats of a fresh protest on 1st October, Nigeria’s Independence Day, the group appealed for restraint and recourse to dialogue emphasising that, “we cannot get solution to our problems on the streets”.
