Former Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalung has called on Nigerians to protest over the hardship in the country, accusing officials in the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of living large at the expense of poor Nigerians.
The former minister made the remark on his X handle on Thursday amidst tension across the country, as a result of the serious economic challenges.
According to him “protest’ is the language that the government understands, urging Nigerians to wake up from their slumber to put the government on its toes to end the current sufferings.
Dalung’s comment comes barely one month after Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation said Nigerians have abandoned their rights of protest in the face of the hostile policies of the Tinubu’s administration which have made many Nigerians poorer.
The former Minister of Transport had accused Nigerians of docility, saying he had never seen a thing like this, adding that the government will not change its ways if nobody speaks out.
Also, Omoyele Sowore, a social critic and leader of #takeitback has insisted that things will continue to go wrong in the country, except Nigerians took their destinies in their hands by unleashing protest against the administration.
Some prominent leaders in the country, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar had recently spoken out against the government and its policies which they insist have rather impoverished Nigerians rather than improved their living conditions.
Recently too, the Sultan of Sokoto, in his reaction to the situation had advised Nigeria’s Frist Lady, Remi Tinubu to speak to her husband, President Tinubu to do something about the suffering in the land.
The administration has labelled the leaders unpatriotic, accusing Obasanjo, Abdusalami and other former leaders of laying the wrong foundation for the country.
The formers leader are responsible for the sorry state of the country, the administration told them, stressing that it’s trying to revamp the economy they destroyed while they were in office.
The Guardian, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, had in its last week’s Editorial, advised the administration to rise up to the occasion, by ending the economic hardship in the country.
The newspaper cited the recent calls for the military takeover of the country amongst Nigerians, as a pointer that many people are not happy and dissatisfied with the way things are presently.
Recall that many Nigerians had in August and October this year took to the streets to expressed their anger against the Tinubu’s administration.
But not a few insist that the two protests did not achieve meaningful results, considering that the situation has even become worse since then.
What led to the hardship, critics of the government insist, include the hike in the pump price of petrol, floating of the naira, amongst others
The administration is also trying to imposed higher taxes as a way of generating revenue, which it said is badly needed to provide critical social services, notwithstanding Nigerians lamentations that the hardship is growing by the day.
The Tinubu’ s administration in its reaction to the complaints, said its ongoing reforms are in the best interest of the country, urging Nigerians to be patient.
The administration has also urged Nigerians to further tighten their belts as various austerity measures, which it said are necessary to move the country forward are being introduced.
But not a few Nigerians have accused the administration of excessive waste, through the ostentatious lifestyles of many officials in government.
For instance, the administration has come under serious knocks following the purchase of a new multi-billion presidential jet for the president. They had earlier expressed anger after reports that a yacht worth several billions of naira was purchased for the use of the presidency.
Dalung said the actions of the officials of the administration did not reflect the current sufferings in the country, wondering while they shoud be living large at the expense of other Nigerians who they are supposed to be serving.
The former minister said the only way to put an end to this is to unleash the venom of protest on the administration to force it to change its ways.
He also called on prominent Nigerians who have taken part in various protests in the past to lead the people to the streets against the Tinubu’s administration.
It is time for Nigerians to “speak the language the government understands,” he said, stressing that the absence of basic necessities of life has made life more unbearable for Nigerians.
He cited the recent power blackout in some northern part of the country “hunger, poverty” among the reasons while Nigerians must protest against the government.
Dalung said on his X, “Northern states have blackouts added to their predicaments; hunger, poverty & misery has taken citizens hostage. While @officialABAT lavishly lives big with his officials imposing taxes for their comfort while calling Nigerians to sacrifice for renewed hopelessness. Have Nigerians been abandoned by voices of conscience? Where are @Tunde_52882, @WoleSoyink58747, @femifalana_SAN, @ShehuSani, @_dinomelaye’ @YeleSowore, @AishaYesufu, @SolomonDalung, @elrufai, @Akin_Malaolu, @adeyanjudeji, @kfayemi, @ruffydfire, @abati1990, etc?.
“The country is navigating seriously into the abyss. We cannot surrender to the ignorance of a few, while watching Nigeria fall. We must return to the street and speak the languages they understand. What are we scared of death or jail?”
The magazine had earlier reported that 17 of the 19 northern states in the country were denied electricity for days due to the vandalisation of power infrastructure in the region by terrorists and criminals.
The federal government said efforts are in top gear to restore power to the affected areas, even as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, said on Wednesday that power have already been restored.
Following Amaechi’s call on Nigerians to protest against the government earlier this month, the administration has accused him of incitement, describing his action as reckless.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle who spoke on behlaf of the government accused the former minister of making an irresponsible statement, noting that the Tinubu’s administration is doing eveything to ameliorate the sufferings, and to safeguard the peace and security of every Nigerian.
He warned that the government will not lie low while Ameachi and others are trying to destabilize the country.
Matawalle said, “It is both reckless and irresponsible for a former public servant of Amaechi’s standing to incite Nigerians against their own government.
“At a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the challenges facing the nation through various reforms that are yielding results, it is absurd, preposterous and shameful for anyone to exploit the genuine situation of our citizens for selfish political gain.
“We will not allow anyone to fuel violence or manipulate the prevailing situation of our people. Let this serve as a final warning to Amaechi and his cohorts.
“It is expected that Amaechi joins hands with the Federal Government to move the country forward. Rather, he chose to stay aside with myopic assertions.”
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