The Oodua People’s Congress has called for dialogue between the government and leaders of the August planned protest against economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
The OPC urged President Bola Tinubu on the need for immediate reversal of increased electricity tariff and reduction of food and fuel prices as a goodwill gesture.
OPC gave its counsel in a statement on Tuesday by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi.
It, however, urged the protesters to remain non-violent and toe the path of dialogue.
“A hungry man is an angry man. The government must crash the price of food, electricity and fuel for peace to reign and for people to know that the government cares about their welfare,” Afolabi said.
The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation urged Tinubu to immediately issue an Executive Order opening up all the country’s borders in the South-West and South-South for rapid inflow of food that would lower prices.
The OPC President encouraged the government to concentrate efforts on getting the nation’s refineries to produce domestic fuel to solve the problem of inadequate and expensive petroleum products.
“If one man, Aliko Dangote, can build a refinery in less than 10 years, how can ordinary maintenance of four full-fledged and functional refineries become an impossible task since 1999 when civilians took over power? What is the mystery?
“The government must identify, expose and apprehend cabals and all the enemies making life unduly difficult for commoners in Nigeria. This nation belongs to all of us and Nigerians must be able to enjoy their commonwealth.”
Meanwhile, a civil rights group, Liberty Movement of Nigeria, asked Nigerians to be patient with the government of Tinubu.
The Convener of the group, Olusola Edward, gave the counsel in a press statement obtained on Tuesday in Lagos.
“Dialogue is often the best way out of social discontent,” Edward said. “At the end of any war, people will still sit around the table for discussions to end hostilities. So why not avoid the war and initiate discussions to prevent a breakdown of peace, law and order? ‘Jaw-jaw’ is always better than war-war,” Edward said.
According to him, the diplomatic way the President personally mediated to peacefully end the minimum wage crisis with Organised Labour showcased him as a leader who did not take Nigerians for granted.
“We appeal to the organisers of the protest to shield their sword, join the government to build a stronger nation and propel Nigeria into the superpower that it is destined to be as the largest Black nation in the world,” the group added.
The Take It Back Movement, one of the organisers of the nationwide protest scheduled for Thursday, has affirmed its intention to proceed.
In response, security agencies, including the police, military, and civil defence, have deployed officers across states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to ensure security during the planned protests.
The hashtag “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” continues to trend on X as Nigerians await developments from Thursday.
