PROTEST: Re-jig your economic team, policies, Appointees as solution to protests–Ebilade tells Tinubu

***caution those planning protest against violence

Former Spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council(IYC) Worldwide, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe has called on President Bola Tinubu to take an inward look into his administration and re-jig his policies, check the performance of his economic team and his cabinet in other to forestall future protest marches against hardship.

Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe who is the national leader of the Niger Delta Advocacy Group also known as the New Era Movement said that the desperate efforts by the federal government to engage traditional rulers, clergy men, opinion leaders and youth groups across the country against the planned protest for August 1st national wide is not the solution to the problems.

Comrade Ekerefe, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, said though It will be a great disservice to the country if he or anyone remain silent at this critical moment for the call for a national protest which will commence on the 1st, Aug. 2024 as a result of the mis-governance and the mismanagement of the Nigerian economy, especially in the last one year.

He said “While the Nigerian people were hoping to see the improvement of the economy after the arbitrary removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the floating of the Forex by the CBN one year after, there’s no sign that things will improve.”

“The cost of living has spiraled and the hardship has become more pervasive and excruciating on the land. Hunger and starvation is killing our people everyday and yet, the federal government is telling the citizens to continually remain patience. For how long? ”

“Honestly, the federal government has left the citizens with no choice than to express their anger and frustration through a peaceful national protest which is backed by law to press home their demand for the president to reverse his inhuman policies that is gradually killing our people and put the economy back on track.”

“Anybody who is opposed to a genuine national protest is either playing politics with the truth or being insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian people who are dying everyday day because of the hardship.”

“The efforts of the federal government in engaging and giving handouts to traditional rulers, clergy men, opinion leaders and youth groups across the country because of the planned protest is not the solution to the economic woes.”

“President Tinubu should as a matter of urgency, recalibrate is failing economic team and bring in more competent people with fresh ideas that will help him restore back the economy at this perilous times.”

“While his government is in a panic mood and making desperate efforts to stop the protest, he should direct the security chiefs, especially the Inspector General of Police to give maximum protection to citizens who are coming out to peacefully protest over the state of the economy in the country.”

Comrade Ekerefe however called on those behind the planned protest to remain peaceful and be vigilante against those planning to hyjack the protest for selfish and political reasons. According to him, “Peaceful protesters should be vigilant enough not to allow contracted hoodlums or hooligans to infiltrate their midst to course mayhem and havoc in the protest venues.”