Afrobeats artist and activist, Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has taken the federal government to task over rising insecurity and economic hardship. In his word today, Falz urged Nigerians to use the political process to register their displeasure with administration.
Falz spoke to the protesters at the June 12 rally in Lagos where a coalition of civil society organisations, labour unions, youth groups, community associations, social movements and faith-based groups converged to protest the escalating insecurity and cost of living problems.
The musician decried the government’s inability to effectively protect the citizens, as the country was faced with an increasing number of kidnappings and homicides, The PUNCH reports.
“Besides the insane corruption and gross mismanagement of our resources, I think everybody can see the worsening insecurity. “It’s just so unbearable now,” he remarked.
He pointed to recent kidnappings in different parts of the country including the kidnapping of students and the abduction of the relative of a former minister in Oyo State, saying all Nigerians should be equally protected irrespective of their rank.
“They don’t give a shit about us. They don’t give a damn about ordinary folks. But it should be acknowledged that no Nigerian life is more valuable than the other. Every Nigerian life is important. “Every single person has to be looked after and protected at all costs,” Falz said.
The artist pleaded for an urgent stop to kidnappings and deaths and expressed concern that youngsters were still being taken despite schools being open. “The situation has left many Nigerians frustrated and disillusioned about the future of the nation,” he stated.
When asked about the ruling party’s chances in the next general election, Falz refused to forecast the outcome but said it was obvious that the people were unhappy with the way they were running the country.
He said political leaders had enough time in office to confront the difficulties facing the country but lacked the resolve. Political Science
The demonstration was part of a nationwide action called by a combination of civic groups, labour campaigners, youth organisations and social movements. The coalition has declared June 12 a day of mass action over what it characterised as rising insecurity, increased economic hardship and deteriorating living conditions of millions of Nigerians.
The proclamation was contained in a statement co-signed by famous activists including as human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights President Yinka Folarin, #EndBadGovernance Movement organiser Hassan Soweto and Falz himself.
Falz, while reiterating his faith in democracy said Nigerians would eventually use the ballot box to make their concerns heard. His comments came as public concerns grew about security and economic crises, themes that are certain to dominate the national political conversation in the run-up to future elections. Politics.
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