Many Nigerians are still reacting to the independence day broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Ahmed Tinubu l, the latest being the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) which has called for the urgent need to address prevalent problems affecting Nigerians.
The group also slammed the country’s leaders for being insensitive to the plight of the people saying the time has come to confront leaders who are insensitive to the sufferings faced by Nigerians.
President of the human rights group, Comrade Igho Akeregha said the President Tinubu has not demonstrated enough commitment to advance the welfare of the citizens.
He pointed out that the country is faced with enormous crises such as high cost of food, commodities, poor infrastructure, prohibitive cost of energy like electricity and fuel, insecurity amid about 45 percent unemployment rate that has made the country uncompetitive at the global stage.
He further stressed that the act of awarding national honours to some politicians like Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representative Tajudeen Abbas and their Deputies who have failed to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians is a reflection of the level of insensitivity on the part of government especially at a time when citizens are frustrated and hungry.
President.l, Civil Liberties Organization, Comerade Igho Akeregha.
Comrade Akeregha further noted that Nigerians are tired of unfulfilled promises such as the promise to release Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses when the President unilaterally removed petroleum subsidy on May 29 last year and the yet to be fulfilled promise to implement true federation and deliver a peoples constitution that guarantees equality for all, justice and freedom for the people.provision of
“The failure of the state to address the worsening living conditions of Nigerians led to the #Endbadgovernance protests and the response of the President Tinubu in his independence day broadcast was the promise to give buses to the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC as well as plan for a 30 – day national Youth Conference” which the CLO described as a criminal diversion from reality.
Rather than the pursuit of inanities, the human rights leader emphasized that Nigerians are demanding committment from government in the area of anti corruption fight to rein in the thieving elites, address the challenges of kidnapping and abduction for ransom and the needless killings of Nigerian soldiers and Policeman by non state actors.
The CLO President stated that unabating flooding remains a major concern yet to be addressed by government emphasising that some parts of the North have been washed away by the flood water with dangerous animals such as snakes and others being swept into the communities.
According to Comrade Akeregha, the CLO expects the President to take his responsibilities seriously and work hard to address the challenge of multi dimensional poverty ravaging many Nigerians that is disrupting access to food and deepening the feeling of frustration among the people.
He urged President Tinubu to put an end to hunger, poverty and insecurity now before it is too late.
“It is dangerous for the ruling elites to tell Nigerians to be patient, persevere in hunger and poverty while they fly in brand new jets, build multi billion naira mansions for themselves and divert billions of naira to fund the opulent life styles” the CLO said.
By Evelyn Akpa