Tinubu should address Nigerians over protest — CEPEJ

A civil society organization, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address Nigerians regarding the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests across the nation.

The National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, who made the plea on Friday, also called on protesters to adhere to the law and court directives to maintain peace and avoid the infiltration of hoodlums.

He stated that while citizens are free to protest as it is their fundamental constitutional right, over 80 percent of Nigerians are directly or indirectly involved in the nationwide protests due to hunger and hardship.

The CEPEJ leader acknowledged that President Tinubu, in his one year in office, has enacted several significant reforms, including the 2023 Electricity Bill, the unification of the naira, the removal of fuel subsidies, the Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee, and Local Government Financial Autonomy.

However, he urged President Tinubu to address the issues raised by Nigerians concerning measures to alleviate hunger and suffering among the masses.

He also recommended that the President establish a joint-stakeholders committee to address the issues raised by the protesters, with a timeline for implementing solutions to prevent recurrence that could be detrimental to the country.

He expressed sympathy for the families and friends who have lost loved ones and property during the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

“We urge the Federal, State, and Local Governments to ensure that Nigerians benefit from democracy and good governance and to address the cost of governance to prevent further protests that could escalate into a full-blown crisis.

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“We want to draw the President’s attention to the fact that over 80 percent of Nigerians are indirectly involved in the protests, not just the few demonstrators on the streets.

“We, therefore, urge the President to take urgent steps to avoid significant danger to the country.

“It is important to note that hunger knows no boundaries and respects no religion or tribe.

“The government should be more proactive rather than reactive,” he appealed.