With just about 72 hours to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen...
With just about 72 hours to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, will engage segments of the Nigerian youth groups and organisations at a town hall meeting Wednesday.
It was not clear if the move was in response to the mounting pressure against the planned protest over hardship in the country.
However, the Speaker’s Office said it was “in furtherance of the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House, which prioritises sustained youth engagement and legislative measures to promote youth political participation, representation, and inclusion in governance and decision-making.”
Reportedly organised in conjunction with the YIAGA Africa and the Konrad Adenuer Stiftung (KAS), the Speaker’s Office explained that the town hall meeting “targets youth leaders and representatives from various youth organisations; students from tertiary institutions; young professionals and entrepreneurs; representatives from civil society organisations focused on youth development; members of the House Committees on Youth Affairs; and Youths in Parliament, among others.”
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, announced this Sunday in a statement in Abuja.
He said: “It is to serve as a platform for direct dialogue, allowing young Nigerians to voice their concerns, share their ideas, and engage with legislative leaders on matters affecting their lives and futures. It will equally bridge the gap between policymakers and the younger generation, ensuring that the policies and laws enacted are inclusive, relevant, and effective in addressing the specific needs of the youth.
“The Legislative Agenda of the 10th House recognises the significant youth bulge in Nigeria, and underscores the importance of harnessing the potential of young people to address the myriad of issues that affect them.
“By creating frameworks and policies that encourage active youth involvement in political processes, the House aims to ensure that young voices are heard and considered in formulating laws and policies.
“This commitment reflects an understanding that the energy, creativity, and perspectives of the youth are vital to fostering a dynamic and responsive governance system.
“Through dedicated efforts to integrate youth into the political landscape, the 10th House of Representatives is poised to empower the next generation, driving forward innovative solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of Nigeria’s young population.”
…JNI urges dialogue
Also, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and other stakeholders in the North have urged government representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens to engage in open and inclusive dialogue to address the underlying issues and concerns that may drive protests.
Similarly, the coalition of CSOs in Kaduna state announced its withdrawal from the planned nationwide protest, promising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu however that it would organise another protest in due course if he failed to address the plight of Nigerians.
But, the JNI appealed for more restraint and cautioned Nigerians on the protest.
The body made its position known in a statement Sunday by its Secretary General, Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu.
“Arising from the recent calls and counter-calls for protest in Nigeria, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty and escalating national security challenges, it becomes very worrying and requires immediate attention.
“Therefore, JNI under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility appeals to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as other critical stakeholders and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to urgently engage in critical and realistic dialogue before the situation degenerate or snowballs into an uncontrollable scenario,” JNI said.
…Igbo youths urged to stay off
And in its approach to the planned protest, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo asked Igbo youth to stay off, saying the body stands for unity.
The newly inaugurated executives of the Kaduna state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Wing made the call weekend at a media parley after their inauguration in Kaduna.
Vice President (Abia) of the Association, Apostle Promise Nmadu feared the criminals may hijack the protest and cause mayhem to get the opportunity to destroy and loot.
Also speaking, Vice President 1, Chief Kingsley Chinedu said: “We are using this medium to call on all Igbo youths to stay off the planned protest of August 1 2024 as directed by our national body, while we are encouraged to go about our normal legitimate duties peacefully.”
On their inauguration, Chinedu said: “We the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youths Wing Kaduna State Chapter, embody this spirit of resilience and determination. Our leader, High Chief Amb Christopher Columbus Onukwugha Geoman, inspires us with his quote: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
“We stand for unity, progress, and the empowerment of Igbo youths in Kaduna state. As we begin this new chapter, we extend our hand of fellowship to other Igbo-speaking groups, embracing our diversity and promoting true brotherhood. Together, we shall speak with one voice for the good of Ndigbo in Kaduna state.”
…Arewa Think Tank, SABMF too
And at a one-day conference organised by Arewa Youth Assembly and the Arewa Think Tank in collaboration with Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), the groups said they were backing out of the proposed protest.
In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, they said the conference theme, “Fuel Your Creativity: Choosing Entrepreneurship for Progress”, resonated well with the northern youths and held significant potential for the benefit of the entire country.
Presenting the communiqué, Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said it would more fruitful to engage than protest.
He said: “Therefore we have resolved that we will not be part of any protests. We call on Nigerian youth to engage authorities constructively through peaceful and legal means, such as dialogue and constructive engagement.”
…Kwara gov pleads
Similarly,Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq appealed to Nigerians to shelve the plan and give the Tinubu administration more time to fix the country’s challenges.
The governor spoke weekend in Ijagbo, Oyun local government of the state, at the 1st coronation anniversary of the Onijagbo of Ijagbo land, Oba Sarafadeen Adeniyi Babalola, and the launch of Ijagbo palace development fund.
AbdulRazaq said the president assumed office amid the mounting economic downturn, which required systemic reforms and understanding of the people.
“For those who are planning protests, let them have patience with Mr. President to fix things. It is an appeal. He just spent one year in the office. It is also too early for those who have political ambitions to start measuring his performance”, the governor said.
The governor congratulated the monarch on his 1st anniversary on the throne, commending him for promoting peace and unity and supporting the government to succeed.
Also speaking at the event, the attorney -general of the federation, (AGF) and minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) , said the federal government was doing its best to salvage the present economic situation in the country and called on people to shelve the planned protests.
The AGF assured that Nigerians would soon begin to feel the ease of the transformative agenda of the present government.
Prince Fagbemi appreciated God that the first year of the reign of Onijagbo has been peaceful and impactful, and thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his administration’s support to the community.
Oba Sarafadeen, in his remarks, thanked the governor for his support for the community and solicited for more, especially in the area of road infrastructure and school teachers.
…Tinubu’s govt cleaning up decades of rot – Pate
Also lending his voice,Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare Professor Ali Pate said the Bola Tinubu administration deserves more support than recrimination from the populace.
Professor Pate spoke while receiving a delegation of APC Professionals Forum, led by Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr Isa Yuguda, weekend in Abuja.
He said: “Since assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has been very deliberate in his bid to address decades’ long challenges in many sectors of the economy and it would not be right to assume that things will change almost overnight.
“All what he has been doing is to fix the accumulation of our collective failure as Nigerians so anyone protesting is protesting against Nigeria not President Tinubu.
“For instance, in the health sector, there is an ongoing rehabilitation and reequipping of all Primary Health care centres and Teaching Hospitals with the support of donor agencies.
“At the primary health care level, we have outlined a plan, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and in collaboration with the states to revive 8,300 primary health care centers across the nation to make them fully functional and to expand and upgrade them to 17,000 Primary Health Care Centers in the next 3-years”
Providing some insight into health infrastructure under the administration, he said: “In terms of hospital equipment and infrastructure, federal hospitals have successfully executed 201 specific infrastructure projects in the last 1 year. Additionally, 179 specific pieces of important medical equipment were procured by the Federal Government and distributed across the six geopolitical zones.
“We are witnessing a substantial upgrade in healthcare infrastructure, a testament to the President’s leadership. Plans are also underway for the groundbreaking ceremony for 10 healthcare infrastructure projects including diagnostic centers and oncology centres across the six geopolitical zones, through the NSIA.
“These developments are part of a broader initiative involving public-private partnerships. We are also moving forward with a major PPP initiative to expand infrastructure as well as equip 6 teaching hospitals.”
Responding, Dr Yuguda, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said he was impressed with the ongoing transformation in the health sector.
-Blueprint Newspaper
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