Uncategorized
PLANNED “HUNGER PROTEST” AN INVITATION TO CHAOS
By Rev Yakubu Pam,
Former Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission
Nigeria is already at the tipping point as a result of the planned “Hunger Protest” by groups of youth across the country, hashtag “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria,” slated to commence on Thursday, 1st August, 2024. Even though Nigerians have the constitional right to peaceful gathering and peaceful protest, there are strong indications that such planned protest is an invitation to chaos.
Indeed, Nigerians still have fresh memories of the tale of woes during the infamous 2020 #EndSARS rallies in the major cities in the federation which began peacefully but were later hijacked by unscrupulous elements and hoodlums who wrecked havoc and looted as well as vandalized both public and private property.
Also recall the 1988 fuel hike by the military administration of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida which ignited protests nation-wide which led to wanton destruction
of lives and property.
There’s no doubt that Nigeria is experiencing its worst cost of living and economic hardships, following the unavoidable and inevitable economic reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The sole aim is to turn around the dwindling economic fortunes of the country before his assumption in office over a year ago. In fact, it was obvious that the nation’s economy was in comatose and needed urgent revival.
Thus, the removal of the fuel subsidy which had hitherto served as the conduit pipe to drain the nation’s resources during the successive administrations by few unpatriotic and unscrupulous Nigerians to the detriment of the wellbeing of the pauperised masses had become imperative.
The action by President Tinubu was apt because economic experts as well as the US-based World Bank and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF), including all the 2023 presidential candidates, had converged on the consensus opinion that removal of the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria was inevitable, hence retaining it was like postponing the evil days. There could not have been any better demonstration of his good intentions for the country than the timely removal of the fuel subsidy.
Therefore, the organizers of the “Hunger Protest ” should give peace a chance and heed to the clarion calls and pleas by the federal government, religious bodies, clerics, security operatives and well-meaning Nigerians to shelve the protest. They should not allow some of the disgruntled youths and undesirable elements in their midst to be used by the opposition figures and unpatriotic Nigerians as canon fodder to thwart the ongoing economic reforms which are of necessity both now and in the future. Failing to continue the implementation of the economic reforms by the Tinubu administration will spell doom for the country and the economy will remain in deep quagmire.
The President has already put in place the necessary measures to address the myriad problems bedeviling the country’s economy and the grievances of the youths. These include students loan scheme, skills acquisition programmes, signing into of the much agitated new national minimum wage of N70,000.00, housing funds scheme and hosts of other palliative measures to cushion the pangs of economic hardships being experienced by Nigerians. Thus, determined not to bore Nigerians with overflogged fairy stories and blame game about those responsible for the economic hardships, the Tinubu administration has decided to tackle head-on the economic problems by introducing the various reforms. The downturn of the economy has put majority of Nigerians below the poverty line which is a sad irony in the oil rich country.
By and large, the planned “Hunger Protest” across the country is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good. The organizers should rather use the ample opportunity to engage the federal government in meaningful dialogue on the way out of the woods. Since nation building is always work-in-progress. What’s even more, even the developed and advanced countries currently having their fair share of the high cost of living and economic hardships. Hence ours is not an exception.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its intention to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the decision of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party said Wike’s decision was personal and did not alter its position to participate in the presidential election with its candidate, Senator Sandy Onor. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, made the clarification on Wednesday.
According to the party, a recent conversation between Wike and Onor should not be interpreted as a political negotiation between the minister and the PDP.
“He told Nigerians that Sandy is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend,” Mohammed said.
He added that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Wike had earlier clarified that his support in 2027 was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests. He also said he never promised that the PDP would abandon its candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC,” Wike said.
The minister also maintained that his proposed Rainbow Coalition was not an arrangement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The issue has generated disagreement with some APC governors, who have expressed concern about a political arrangement that could affect the party’s candidates at other levels.
APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors would not support any alliance or arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates.
Meanwhile, APC presidential campaign council spokesperson Ima Niboro has urged Wike and APC governors to end their public exchanges and concentrate on political mobilisation.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” Niboro said.
He urged political leaders to strengthen their grassroots structures and engage directly with voters rather than continue exchanging statements in the media.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
HONOURABLE JAFAARU YAKUBU COMMISERATES WITH QATAR OVER THE DEATH OF RULER
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