…explore other means to air their concern
The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance has admonished youths most especially to shelve planned protest given volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan in recent times.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing, the spokespersons for the group, Barr. Adedotun Ajulo, and Barr Kayode Magbojuri pleaded with all youths in the state and the nation at large to shelve the planned protest in order to allow for proper and more discreet means of passing their demands.
While acknowledging that peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement that allows the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable, the group noted that the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan.
The group also spoke extensively on other challenges ranging from issues of economy, occasioned by unbridled vicious inflation, and serious security challenges diluted with the pro people judgement on local government autonomy among others.
The statement in full:
TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE DELIVERED BY THE COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE ON HAPPENINGS IN NIGERIA.
Civil Society Stakeholders here present,
Gentlemen and Ladies of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen
We welcome you to this State of the Nation Address. It is noteworthy that we have stayed consistent with our resolution to be the conscience of our democratic governance, through engagements and timely criticism that is normally expected to help government at all levels take the right decisions.
We are here again to speak to issues of Nationhood and threat to same.
The recent months has come with a plethora of challenges for Nigerians and critical steps taken in the polity at federal level, making survival for the common man quite difficult.
These challenges range from issues of economy, occasioned by unbridled vicious inflation, and serious security challenges diluted with the pro people judgement on local government autonomy. In the midst of all of the challenges, it has remained unclear whether public servants have the solutions to the problems we face today, as a people.
This address will briefly address the issues we have identified and proffer solutions where necessary.
New Minimum wage.
It is important to state an increase in the country’s minimum wage as announced is welcomed with mixed feelings. While we understand that inflation makes untendered rise in minimum wage, we belief too that the nation expected more than is been offered as minimum wage at this time but we take solace in the proposed review of minimum wage in three years as against five years presently as it is in our law.
We charge the government to regulate market prices of goods and products to ensure that the minimum wage serves its intent and purpose so that the civil servants of this country do not receive the minimum wage with one hand and lose same on the other hand with the high cost of goods and service as may be occasioned by the payment of the new minimum wage.
We take note that the new minimum wage should.have been since April and as such, crisis must be averted by ensuring that the backlog is paid as soon as possible even when it is not yet demanded.
This must be followed up with pressure on the private sector to also implement minimum wage, to achieve an all-encompassing uplift to the living conditions in the country.
We must also return to the drawing board to re-tune our poverty alleviation policies, as well as our humanitarian service structures. Aside from the reign of corruption in the management of resources allocated for those programmes and policies, we must also tune them to current realities so that we do not continue to pay lip service to poverty eradication.
It is also important that we increase productivity across board, through human capital development programmes that will be implemented across the nooks and crannies of the country. If we do not boost our productivity as a country, we run the risk of never truly succeeding with policies that target poverty eradication and economic growth.
In the spirit of the recent judgement of the supreme Court of Nigeria on local government administration, States must now be held accountable for the diversion of Local Government funds which has become a Nationwide practice. The book of records over the years must be opened with the aim of ascertaining how much of common wealth at the local level has been misapproprated by the states and be made accountable for it.
Proposed Endbadgovernance protest.
Bad govenance dated back to some 40 years ago, and this cannot be corrected within a year of Tinunbu led administration.We need to give him at least two years before reviewing its policies for possible scrutiny.
While We strongly hold that the right to protest is that of every citizens of this country and no one should attempt to subdue people’s voices whenever they chose to cry out about how they are been governed or misgoverned. The state of affairs in Nigeria over years is worrisome and people have a right to voice their disapproval as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for freedom of association, gathering and affiliations.
We condemn threats by security agencies, groups and political office holders against any form of protest. Our democracy as presently enjoyed was borne out of agitation and protests and if there is any component of democracy that is germane, it is that of freedom.
However, the trajectory of those and the records over time of those that seems to be promoting the protest is worrisome. At a time that we have not fully recovered from the woes of the EndSars, the looting, maiming and destruction of public facilities that were replaced by common patrimony or lost forever, we CAN’T afford to have a repeat of such as a nation and that is why the note of caution is been sounded to the ears of particularly the youths.
An uncoordinated protest or one that is without leadership is a very dangerous one and we can’t allow ourselves to be used by those who have ulterior motives about this protest.
It is in this light that we plead with all youths of the state and the nation at large that the planned protest should be reconsidered to allow for proper for a more discreet means of passing the demands and ensuring they are met than hitting the street for a protest we all may later regret.
Peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement, allowing the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable. However, the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan.
We must also draw from our recent history. The #ENDSARS and #RevolutionNow protests, though rooted in genuine grievances, were marred by tragic incidents where miscreants hijacked the process. This led to widespread looting, destruction of properties, and unfortunate loss of lives. These experiences have shown us that mass demonstrations can quickly degenerate into chaos if not properly managed and coordinated.
We already have shortage of critical infrastructure in the country and we can not afford to by ourselves destroy the very few functional national assets in the name of showing grievances against the government.
We advice the government to be more proactive and engage in more citizens engagements by been accountable and showing empathy in their dealings and demand from the system that accommodate their representation and leadership.
We charge the people of Ondo State and particularly the youths to acknowledge that the two persons representing Ondo State at the Federal Executive Council are youths and the outstanding achievement of an OLUBUNMI TUNJI OJO in the ministry of interior is unprecedented. He has broken the barrier of non performance by enhancing our passport system and protection of our borders. He is our pride and we must support Him to continually succeed.
Security:
The Federal Government and the entire security architecture need to urgently restrategize to arrest security situation in the country. It is not enough to sympathize with citizens, we must ensure that perpetrators of evil are made to face the full wrath of the law, to serve as deterrent to others.
Conclusion:
We strongly belief that a new nation is possible and that can only be when leaders and citizens alike fully cooperate and committed to nation building.
A new nation is possible.
Thank you.
Barr. Adedotun Ajulo, Esq & Barr Kayode Magbojuri,
Spoke on behalf of the CSOs
For the Coalition
